A CHRISTMAS CAROL
As you may know, not many events can entice Mr. X out of the house. But, as the supreme expert on Charles Dickens’ classic tale, A Christmas Carol, (he even apprised me of the fact that the chapters in this book are called “staves!,”) he accompanied me to A Noise Within in Pasadena to see that play, which this company has been staging for over a decade! How have I missed it until now?!
Photo by Craig Schwartz.
We both get upset at movie versions that are not the one starring the incomparable Alastair Sim, from 1951—it can’t be beat. (Mr. X knows every word of it, and by now I’m able to join in on a lot of it, as well.) So I have to admit that I was a tad apprehensive about seeing this stage production, no matter how well-received it’s been in the past. But it did pretty much stick with that script we admire. (I don’t know exactly how the original novella goes, even though I gave Mr. X the official annotated book one Christmas. We really just wanted to know what the little boy’s question, “Wha cur?,” means. That edition did not help, but I later learned that it’s used to express indifference or be dismissive. I guess that now I can go on Jeopardy!)
Here are two of the decorated lobby Christmas trees. Do you see the one that’s not obvious? (That tiny bit of red sweater on the left is Mr. X’s arm!) Photo by Karen Salkin.
A Christmas Carol is actually a perfect show with which to begin the holiday season. And A Noise Within’s lobby is appropriately festive, with not one, nor two, but three decorated Christmas trees! Mr. X had never been there before, and, as I figured he would be, he was most impressed with the theatre itself.
This is an overall well-done production. A lot of work went into this company’s rendition. There’s a plethora of clever touches. There’s also occasional music, dancing, and singing, which all add to the fun, (although none is necessary nor particularly special. But entertaining enough.) More than anything, though, I adored the perfect backdrop projections by Nick Santiago! They add soooo much to the proceedings!
I also appreciate that there’s a narrator, (in British character, of course,) to move the story along. She reads from the actual Dickens book at the beginning and end, and shows-up from time to time throughout, without interfering with the action. No one needs to be as into the story as Mr. X and I are to enjoy this presentation, but a bit of familiarity with the outline would certainly help. Absent that, we have the narrator.
The set before it begins, where one of the gorgeous projections sets the scene. Photo by Karen Salkin.
The company makes creative use of the many audience aisles, which I don’t think I’ve seen in any of the four previous offerings of theirs that I’ve reviewed. And at one point, chains get pulled on stage from directly over our heads, which Mr. X says is “quite the inventive addition.”
Kasey Mahaffey in the center. Photo by Abe Portillo, as is the one at the top of this review.
As far as the actors go, I’m pleased that they all do good English accents. I’m also happy to discover that perennial A Noise Within star, Kasey Mahaffey, who plays Scrooge’s clerk, Bob Cratchit, is as good with drama as he is with comedy. And company Artistic Director, Geoff Elliott, (who does most of the heavy lifting for this one—he’s not only the star, but also co-directed it with his wife, Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, and adapted it for the stage,) makes a convincing Ebenezer Scrooge. (But his character needs to stop blowing his nose so often! We get it—it’s winter and cold out and that makes one’s nose run! But, I promise you, two times of that action is more than enough.)
And Riley Shanahan does a good job as Scrooge’s deceased long-time business partner, Jacob Marley, but he is waaaay too young to be playing that role—Marley is supposed to be the same age as Scrooge! Even with deceased-character make-up, Riley looks and sounds about fifty years younger than the character should be! That discrepancy took a chunk of my attention away from this important scene which sets-up that Scrooge will be visited by a trio of Christmas spirits that evening!
Geoff Elliott (on the ground) and Riley Shanahan, with the chains that get pulled over the audience.
Photo by Abe Portillo.
Another thing I don’t understand is why, during the section with the Ghost of Christmas Past, they leave-out the part where Scrooge’s beloved sister dies in childbirth, which explains his disdain for his nephew, Fred. But I’m surmising the purpose of that omission is to not scare the many children in attendance, which is a good choice.
Always a good choice is seeing A Christmas Carol at this time of year! We’re lucky to have this fabulous opportunity.
I still have to see the movie this season, though, for a few bits that I missed in this stage rendering; you should keep an eye out for them if you ever get the chance to see the Alastair Sim classic. One is a scene with his housekeeper when he finally accepts the joys of the holiday, and she says in her cockney accent, “Merry Christmas, Mr. Scrooge, in keeping with the situation.” I can’t tell you how often I’ve used those last five words since I first saw the film. Another is the dance scene at the end, when Scrooge is at his nephew’s party, and he almost gets hit in the back while dancing the polka. But my fave is after Scrooge first gets up and looks in the mirror on Christmas morning, and there is…a film crew member! It’s subtle and lasts only a second or two, but boy, do I get an odd kick out of it!
Part of the Opening Night curtain call–the actors bow to all the sections of the audience space! Photo by Karen Salkin.
But even without that one housekeeper segment, and minus the two little film snafus, (which, obviously, can never be part of a stage production of A Christmas Carol,) I highly suggest that my fellow Angelenos go enjoy A Noise Within’s lovely production of it.
And here’s one final tip: This company is kind enough to play on Christmas Eve! I think that will be a special and wonderful way to spend that holiday night.
A Christmas Carol running through December 24, 2025
A Noise Within 3352 E. Foothill Blvd. Pasadena
626-356-3121 www.anoisewithin.org
