A CHRISTMAS CAROL

 

Being that A Christmas Carol is Mr. X’s favorite holiday movie, to which he knows every word, (and acts it out better than any actor ever, save for the definitive Scrooge, Alastair Sim,) I was actually hesitant to see any other production of it because we’re such purists about this tale. But, since I love the Glendale Centre Theatre, I decided to chance it on opening night, forcing Mr. X to accompany me, so I wouldn’t feel like I was cheating on him. They did not disappoint.

As I’ve told you before, this theatre company really knows how to do things right, from the outside of the theatre to the lobby to the snacks to the production. And, in this case, after it, as well, but I don’t want to spoil the last bit of fun for you, so you just have to see if for yourself. [Note: I’ll tweet it when the run is over, in case you missed the show but are curious to know what I’m talking about. @KarenSalkin.]

To that end, they made the lobby into a winter wonderland. (I would have liked to spend more time in it, but Mr. X had unknowingly dropped all of our cash out of the car and we spent just about the entire intermission searching for it, to no avail. Merry Xmas to us, I guess!) It was just gorgeous! And the treats concession featured hot chocolate and cider. (Not blended, of course, though that might be an interesting idea.) There were cute Xmas items to buy, as well, which we did, but please remember to bring cash.

Now to the show itself. I was pleased to see that they basically followed the real script, with not much auxiliary chicanery. Since they produce mainly musicals at this theatre, I had concerns that they’d try to turn this into one, (which we would have hated,) but they did something clever instead and added carols at the beginning and occasionally throughout, with what sounded like a couple of original ditties here and there. It was lovely to hear beautiful voices so up-close and personal. I’m used to hearing only myself sing those songs, and trust me, it’s not a joyful noise.

The only semi-weakness was Scrooge himself. Mario DiGregorio’s portrayal seemed skewed more for a children’s audience than a mixed one. If that was his intent, he succeeded. One problem for us was his silly asides that were far from Dickensian, though, in fairness, that may have been the fault of the direction and not the actor. His acting was good enough, but he didn’t imbue the role with the desperation necessary during and after the spirits’ visits, nor the absolute elation that should have been there when he woke up near the end and realized that he hadn’t missed Christmas after all. We really wanted to revel with Scrooge in his newfound happiness, but we never got to. Mr. DiGregorio just didn’t seem as invested as the rest of the cast, who gave it their all.

But, other than that, the production was totally successful! It had charm, breathtaking visuals, and production values that surpass most other Los Angeles theaters. The stars to me, though, were the Broadway-caliber costumes. The company, and Angela Wood of Glendale Costumes, outdid themselves with these stunners.

I must laud the Glendale Centre Theatre for something that I’ve noticed in all three of the shows I’ve seen there this year–this company’s productions aren’t vanity projects, as just about all the other productions in the L.A. Area are; these people really put a lot into it. They never scrimp on the cast, that’s for sure! They don’t have just a couple of actors representing a town—they always have lots of cast members, and part of the fun is watching them all navigate such a small space without bumping into each other or making the audience nervous. And I enjoy seeing the creation of some of the different sets unfold in front of our eyes.

Their little touches are always special. In this production, they even take it down to design of the floor, which has snow patches on hints of cobblestone.

And I love that the theatre director, Tim Dietlein, has two sons in the show with him; what better way to spend a family Christmas?! Especially for a theatre family!

So, if you get to just one theatre this holiday season, the Glendale Centre Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol should be the one, in my opinion. Alone, as a couple (or a couple of pals,) or with kids, I guarantee you’ll have a fun holiday experience. Just at some point in your life, please do yourself a favor and watch the Alastair Sim version, too!

A Christmas Carol running through December 24 (when else?), 2011 Glendale Centre Theatre 324 N. Orange Street,  Glendale  818-244-8481 www.glendalecentretheatre.com