A Christmas Carol (Old Vic Theatre)

(seen at the afternoon performance on 4th December 2024)

The show has been given a fresh coat of paint this year. New underscoring, fresh choreography, the stage opened up by pushing the on-stage seating back further to the sides and angling the regular stalls more towards the playing area.

All the better to see John Simms raise Scrooge to a new high. His is an intellectual interpretation. A thinking man able to analyse his feelings and choosing to ignore the effect on others. His childhood abuse at the hand of his father is entirely the reason the happy boy became the man he did. It is a chilling and thrilling portrayal.

Fezziwig (Alastair Parker) is back and on fine form again. Irish, this time, with stunningly good Juliette Crosbie as daughter Belle. Julie Jupp steals the ghost show as "Ghost of Christmas Past," though Mark Goldthorp as Marley runs her close, particularly on vocals.

Georgina Sadler is a charming Little Fan, caring and wise. Rob Compton enjoys a role likewise as Bob Cratchit to his family, with Freddie Marshall-Ellis stealing the human show as "Tiny Tim" at the performance the monkey saw.

Another year of "5 stars, standing ovation given."

 

FROM PREVIOUS YEARS (some actors have since left the cast).

(seen at the afternoon performance on 6th December 2023)

Another quick update as the previous years speak for themselves. The monkey declares this one fabulous, a vintage year. Christopher Eccleston is a powerhouse, and the entire cast take the pace from him. Driven to the point of aggressive in the pursuit of money, Eccleston fills in a lot of blanks in the early back history by descending into that state rather than being an onlooker. His transformation is equally detailed, with a sense of bemusement before euphoria sets in. Yet it is a controlled euphoria - that of a man who sees reason and has moved towards it.

A good move to bring Alastair Parker back as Fezziwig, and worth mentioning are Matthew Maddison as Young Ebenezer who is rightly captivated by Frances McNamee as a plain-speaking Belle.

New carols and a few other changes make the show even punchier, the direction helping it land with total precision. If you haven't seen it before, go. If you have, go.

5 stars, standing ovation given.
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(seen at the afternoon performance on 29th November 2022)

Just a quick update this year, as the monkey has said most of it before. Owen Teale is a senior Scrooge, somewhat melancholy rather than brutal. The awakening of his Christmas spirit is less surprising than usual, more a relief the ghosts help him to channel it.

His sister Little Fran (Melissa Allan) has a simplicity and sweetness that is irresistible, while his missed love opportunity Belle (Lydia White) has an interesting journey from Cockney undertaker’s daughter to quietly refined lady, a nice interpretation.

Her father Fezziwig (Alastair Parker) matches her simple philosophy and his disappointment at being unable to hand his business to Scrooge is sincere in its understatement.

Sebastien Torkia gives Scrooge’s relative Fred a much-needed depth, Roger Dipper is an intelligent Bob Cratchit but not bright enough to avoid being upstaged by Casey-Indigo Blackwood-Lashley’s Tiny Tim... a little meddling with the death scene could fix that if it isn’t going against the spirit of the season...

Quick notes too for Samuel Townsend with a lovely few moments as Young Ebenezer and a round for the spooks not already mentioned - Jenny Fitzpatrick, Julie Jupp.

The show itself feels stripped right back this year. Sticking far more rigidly than last to the script, the little asides are missed. On the plus side, the energy from the ensemble and the voices this year are exceptional, as are the musical arrangements chosen.

It’s the usual classic. If you haven’t seen it go, if you have, go again as usual, like the monkey does.
 

 

 

(seen at the afternoon performance on 30th November 2021)
After a year confined to streaming-only, the show comes back stronger than ever with a cast and production capable of silencing the rowdiest school party upper circle audience.

Stephen Mangan is simply the perfect git. His Scrooge ignores his inner humanity but is fully aware of it and how best it is avoided. By being a git. His transformation is thus a very credible psychological breakthrough, another actor bringing originality and fresh insight to the role.

Of this year’s newcomers, the notables include Jack Shalloo is a sincere and devoted Bob Cratchit, Karen Fishwick a pure-ringing Belle, Rachel John a beautifully vocal Mrs Fezziwig / Brenda and Suri White making an unforgettable optimistically bright Tiny Tim.

A moment too for Amanda Hadingue, who has to follow Myra McFadyen as Ghost of Christmas Past. That she “ages up” perfectly and finds the same warmth as her predecessor is an outstanding achievement.

Old lags James Staddon as Fezziwig and Andrew Langtree as Marley have lost nothing over time either, both deeper and more focussed settling into familiar characters.

The show itself weaves a powerful magic all over again. Little tweaks as always to music and Mangan has a ready quip or three – particularly for shy audience helpers. A tiny moment for the monkey itself when Scrooge pointed out the hungry ape on the front row when offering turkey... that’s what you get for starting a matinee at 1pm, sunshine.

Mince pies and fruit available as usual. Bell ringing and period carols. Snow. Action all over the auditorium and the same energy as ever.

Tickets are available, please buy them, as this show blesses every one.

5 star standing ovation.

 

 

Notes from previous years. Some actors have now left the cast.
The monkey rarely has time to see any production twice. This exception, though, is worth it and is now as much a part of its annual West End Christmas as the Palladium panto.

After the first year Warchus resolved all the issues of timing in the first few minutes, with the actors now chatting amiably with the audience (orchestrating a "Mexican Wave" through the dress circle), passing out treats and gathering together to dance before the show starts in earnest.

The opening scenes now make sense and flow with the same rhythm as the rest. 

Returnees like Myra McFadyen (Ghost of Christmas Past) show the others how it is done, a real pleasure to see them again. Oh, and Lara Mehmet (Tiny Tim) steals the entire show...

This reached the full 5 stars from the monkey in 2018. That year, it observed two bratty tweenagers, moaning pre-show about everything. Wide-eyed, open-mouthed and giggling with delight just 2 hours later. The pure magic of great theatre.

Don't miss it - and remember on the way out to stop by the manager's office and demand it is revived for 2020/21 (you did, well done - editor 2020), you'll thank yourself next year that you did.