A Christmas Carol
adapted by John Mortimer from Charles Dickens’ novel
Southend Drama Society
1st-5th December 2015
adapted by John Mortimer from Charles Dickens’ novel
Southend Drama Society
1st-5th December 2015
A Christmas Carol is probably one of the most popular Christmas stories ever told; written by Charles Dickens in just six weeks between October and November, it practically reinvented Christmas for the Victorians of the time as up until his novel was published, Christmas had become a much neglected and rarely celebrated holiday. Dickens’ novel, which told the tale of the bitter old miser, Scrooge, and his transformation into a gentler, kindlier man after being visited by four ghosts, certainly changed all that for the Victorians of the time and has remained firmly in our hearts and forever popular.
Scrooge has been played by so many actors over the years including Alistair Sim, Albert Finney, Michael Caine and Patrick Stewart, to name but a few and there has been many adaptions of A Christmas Carol, with blockbuster films, radio plays, cartoons and musicals being made from as early as 1901 right up to the latest 3D ‘performance capture’ film version starring Jim Carrey.
Southend Drama Society has taken on an adaption of the novel, written by John Mortimer which was premiered at The Barbican Theatre in 1994 by the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has remained very true to the novel and the play is almost self narrated by most of the actors but essentially driven along by a Chorus who introduce us to each of the characters. Charlie Mellor, Emma Carlile and Liz Hoskin who play the Chorus do an excellent job of maintaining the pace of the production which at times can seem rather verbose.
Almost all of the characters in this production are doubled and sometimes tripled up and this is executed very well with some lovely individual characterisations. Gemma Fiore sets a fine example as the humble Mrs Cratchit, the jolly Mrs Fezziwig and also the old hag, Mrs Dilber. Likewise, Simon Jones who plays Scrooge’s nephew Fred, Cratchit’s son, Peter and Scrooge’s chum, Dick Wilkins.
Paul Jennings plays the part of Bob Cratchit nicely and I particularly enjoyed Kay Banning as the Spirit of Christmas present, whose warmth instantly radiated through her portrayal.
The pivotal role is of course that of the old ‘humbug’ himself, Ebenezer Scrooge; a part that demands a whole range of emotions and the absolute necessity to be able to make the audience loathe and then love you as his pitiful life is dramatically replayed before him. Darran Lebeter has the audience in the palm of his hands from the moment we see him as Scrooge working on his books in his dingy office, lit only by a solitary candle. His miserly ways are made very clear when being asked for a donation for a children's charity, he suggests that they “let the children die and reduce the surplus population.” Darran completely embodies the part of Scrooge from his vocality through to his body language and draws us in along his journey of self discovery where he eventually learns that “happiness doesn’t cost a fortune” as he witnesses, with the Spirit of Christmas present, his nephew Fred entertaining his friends and family at a Christmas day gathering and in one of my favourite scenes of the play, desperately wishing that he could play along and join in with their games.
It is clear that Director, Peter Nawrat, has worked his cast pretty hard for this production. It is a somewhat wordy play and one that is probably more suited to the traditionalists amongst us as it keeps very close to the novel. However, Peter has used The Dixon Studio to good advantage with some lovely set pieces and despite there being a few clunky scene changes, these were padded out with some lovely music choices; mind you, I was a little surprised to hear a rather modern version of Joy to the World being used in one scene change. Costumes were perfect for the period and looked fabulous. Kay Banning has worked wonders in Wardrobe.
Apparently, this version of the script is currently on the GCSE curriculum and anyone who is studying the play would do well to come and see Southend Drama’s production. It’s not often local school children get the chance to see the words that they are studying in the classroom brought to life and this is a perfect opportunity.
For the rest of us, well, this is no better time than to reflect on how warmth, generosity, and overall goodwill can overcome bitterness, indifference and fear. As Scrooge encounters and learns from the memories each Spirit shows him and with the terror of death instilling an imminent moral reckoning in him, it should also remind us all of how much these moral ideals should not just be for Christmas but all year round.
Scrooge has been played by so many actors over the years including Alistair Sim, Albert Finney, Michael Caine and Patrick Stewart, to name but a few and there has been many adaptions of A Christmas Carol, with blockbuster films, radio plays, cartoons and musicals being made from as early as 1901 right up to the latest 3D ‘performance capture’ film version starring Jim Carrey.
Southend Drama Society has taken on an adaption of the novel, written by John Mortimer which was premiered at The Barbican Theatre in 1994 by the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has remained very true to the novel and the play is almost self narrated by most of the actors but essentially driven along by a Chorus who introduce us to each of the characters. Charlie Mellor, Emma Carlile and Liz Hoskin who play the Chorus do an excellent job of maintaining the pace of the production which at times can seem rather verbose.
Almost all of the characters in this production are doubled and sometimes tripled up and this is executed very well with some lovely individual characterisations. Gemma Fiore sets a fine example as the humble Mrs Cratchit, the jolly Mrs Fezziwig and also the old hag, Mrs Dilber. Likewise, Simon Jones who plays Scrooge’s nephew Fred, Cratchit’s son, Peter and Scrooge’s chum, Dick Wilkins.
Paul Jennings plays the part of Bob Cratchit nicely and I particularly enjoyed Kay Banning as the Spirit of Christmas present, whose warmth instantly radiated through her portrayal.
The pivotal role is of course that of the old ‘humbug’ himself, Ebenezer Scrooge; a part that demands a whole range of emotions and the absolute necessity to be able to make the audience loathe and then love you as his pitiful life is dramatically replayed before him. Darran Lebeter has the audience in the palm of his hands from the moment we see him as Scrooge working on his books in his dingy office, lit only by a solitary candle. His miserly ways are made very clear when being asked for a donation for a children's charity, he suggests that they “let the children die and reduce the surplus population.” Darran completely embodies the part of Scrooge from his vocality through to his body language and draws us in along his journey of self discovery where he eventually learns that “happiness doesn’t cost a fortune” as he witnesses, with the Spirit of Christmas present, his nephew Fred entertaining his friends and family at a Christmas day gathering and in one of my favourite scenes of the play, desperately wishing that he could play along and join in with their games.
It is clear that Director, Peter Nawrat, has worked his cast pretty hard for this production. It is a somewhat wordy play and one that is probably more suited to the traditionalists amongst us as it keeps very close to the novel. However, Peter has used The Dixon Studio to good advantage with some lovely set pieces and despite there being a few clunky scene changes, these were padded out with some lovely music choices; mind you, I was a little surprised to hear a rather modern version of Joy to the World being used in one scene change. Costumes were perfect for the period and looked fabulous. Kay Banning has worked wonders in Wardrobe.
Apparently, this version of the script is currently on the GCSE curriculum and anyone who is studying the play would do well to come and see Southend Drama’s production. It’s not often local school children get the chance to see the words that they are studying in the classroom brought to life and this is a perfect opportunity.
For the rest of us, well, this is no better time than to reflect on how warmth, generosity, and overall goodwill can overcome bitterness, indifference and fear. As Scrooge encounters and learns from the memories each Spirit shows him and with the terror of death instilling an imminent moral reckoning in him, it should also remind us all of how much these moral ideals should not just be for Christmas but all year round.
What the audience thought
Sarah Layen, Eastwood
“We thought we’d come and see this as an early Christmas present. I thought it was quite good, considering they are amateurs. The costumes were excellent.”
Christine Crawford, Eastwood
“I thought Scrooge was very very good. He reminded me a bit of Victor Meldrew! I was a bit surprised to see puppets in it though.”
Jade Jackson, 15, Eastwood
“It was a bit long for me but I thought Scrooge was excellent.”
Sarah Layen, Eastwood
“We thought we’d come and see this as an early Christmas present. I thought it was quite good, considering they are amateurs. The costumes were excellent.”
Christine Crawford, Eastwood
“I thought Scrooge was very very good. He reminded me a bit of Victor Meldrew! I was a bit surprised to see puppets in it though.”
Jade Jackson, 15, Eastwood
“It was a bit long for me but I thought Scrooge was excellent.”
