Review: ‘A Christmas Carol’ Reminds Audience To Laugh And Love
December 5, 2016 at 1:48 p.m.
Review: ‘A Christmas Carol’ Reminds Audience To Laugh And Love
By David [email protected]
And while the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts has done different versions of the Charles Dickens classic story over the years, the packed house Sunday seemed to enthusiastically enjoy it as if it was their first time seeing it.
This particular version features music by Alan Menken (Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” “Tangled”) with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens (“Anastasia,” “Camp”), and a book by Mike Ockrent (“Me and My Girl,” “Crazy for You”) and Ahrens.
There are much darker retellings of this Christmas tale, but in this show at the Wagon Wheel, even the ghosts that appear in the musical number “Link By Link” are family friendly – though they look like they could have just stepped off the set of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller!”
The ghosts of Christmas past (Tyler Pirrung), present (Chuckie Benson) and future (Jennifer Dow) are more light and fluffy than other interpretations, but that’s good for the children in the audience. In fact, they provide some much-needed comic relief to a show that could otherwise be overly somber.
In his performance as the ghost of the past, Pirrung gives a snappy, whimsical performance that brought laughs to the audience. He shows Ebenezer Scrooge (Brett J. Frazier) his broken childhood, how Scrooge lost the love of his life, Emily (Grace Williams), and the good times at Fezziwig’s annual Christmas ball. But even when he’s showing Scrooge the part of his past he doesn’t want to remember – like his sister Fan (Allyssa Trolinger) dying in childbirth – Pirrung manages to elicit a laugh from the audience.
Pirrung’s performance is definitely a highlight in a show that’s very well done.
Scrooge, obviously, is the center of the show. He is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Marley (Mike Yocum), and the ghosts of his past, present and future so that he may change his ways before it’s too late. The role must be played just right so that the audience believes he’s a miserable miser who becomes the epitome of the holiday season.
Frazier does just that – he brings Scrooge alive so you detest him at the start, sympathize with him in the middle and forgive him at the end. Frazier hasn’t been on the Wagon Wheel stage since he played Billy Sykes in “Oliver” in December 2012, which earned him rave reviews from me, and it’s great to see him return. He owns every minute that he’s on the stage.
Benson commanded the Wagon Wheel stage this past summer – Coalhouse in “Ragtime,” Curtis in “Sister Act,” teen angel in “Grease” and as “Horse” in “The Full Monty.” As the ghost of the present, Benson slides easily right into the role. The ghost loves and surrounds himself with children, and Benson frolics right with them. But when the ghost talks about Ignorance and Want, and how Ignorance is man’s downfall, Benson’s youthful exuberance becomes a stern warning.
As the ghost of the future, Dow doesn’t have any lines. She’s an old hag who just leads Scrooge to things she wants him to see and they are images that many fear – including one’s own death. By the time Scrooge gets to her, however, he’s already begun to change his ways and knows that the future of the life he’s been leading can’t be good. Dow does have other lines in the show, and she’s played old hags before, so her performance is as expected – flawless.
There are many children in this show and they appear to be a great group of future Wagon Wheel stars: Playing Tiny Tim this season is Jaxson Byers or Olliver Pettitt, depending which show you see; Brielle Fehlmann as Martha and Alek Fehlmann as Scrooge at 8 years old; Callen Hoskins as Scrooge at 12; and the ensemble of children. They all hit their marks and did very well during Sunday’s matinee.
This “Christmas Carol” is sung throughout, and all the voices are lovely; there’s big dance numbers, and all are impressive. And no matter how many times you’ve seen this story in one form or another, the message never changes and is always relevant: Be a part of the world and celebrate it, celebrate life, celebrate humanity.
Overall, my rating of Wagon Wheel’s “A Christmas Carol” (out of four) is a 3.75.
The weekend performances run through Dec. 18 on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Those interested in details or tickets should call the box office at 574-267-8041, stop by at 2515 E. Center St., Warsaw, or visit wagonwheelcenter.org.
[[In-content Ad]]
Latest News
E-Editions
And while the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts has done different versions of the Charles Dickens classic story over the years, the packed house Sunday seemed to enthusiastically enjoy it as if it was their first time seeing it.
This particular version features music by Alan Menken (Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” “Tangled”) with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens (“Anastasia,” “Camp”), and a book by Mike Ockrent (“Me and My Girl,” “Crazy for You”) and Ahrens.
There are much darker retellings of this Christmas tale, but in this show at the Wagon Wheel, even the ghosts that appear in the musical number “Link By Link” are family friendly – though they look like they could have just stepped off the set of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller!”
The ghosts of Christmas past (Tyler Pirrung), present (Chuckie Benson) and future (Jennifer Dow) are more light and fluffy than other interpretations, but that’s good for the children in the audience. In fact, they provide some much-needed comic relief to a show that could otherwise be overly somber.
In his performance as the ghost of the past, Pirrung gives a snappy, whimsical performance that brought laughs to the audience. He shows Ebenezer Scrooge (Brett J. Frazier) his broken childhood, how Scrooge lost the love of his life, Emily (Grace Williams), and the good times at Fezziwig’s annual Christmas ball. But even when he’s showing Scrooge the part of his past he doesn’t want to remember – like his sister Fan (Allyssa Trolinger) dying in childbirth – Pirrung manages to elicit a laugh from the audience.
Pirrung’s performance is definitely a highlight in a show that’s very well done.
Scrooge, obviously, is the center of the show. He is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Marley (Mike Yocum), and the ghosts of his past, present and future so that he may change his ways before it’s too late. The role must be played just right so that the audience believes he’s a miserable miser who becomes the epitome of the holiday season.
Frazier does just that – he brings Scrooge alive so you detest him at the start, sympathize with him in the middle and forgive him at the end. Frazier hasn’t been on the Wagon Wheel stage since he played Billy Sykes in “Oliver” in December 2012, which earned him rave reviews from me, and it’s great to see him return. He owns every minute that he’s on the stage.
Benson commanded the Wagon Wheel stage this past summer – Coalhouse in “Ragtime,” Curtis in “Sister Act,” teen angel in “Grease” and as “Horse” in “The Full Monty.” As the ghost of the present, Benson slides easily right into the role. The ghost loves and surrounds himself with children, and Benson frolics right with them. But when the ghost talks about Ignorance and Want, and how Ignorance is man’s downfall, Benson’s youthful exuberance becomes a stern warning.
As the ghost of the future, Dow doesn’t have any lines. She’s an old hag who just leads Scrooge to things she wants him to see and they are images that many fear – including one’s own death. By the time Scrooge gets to her, however, he’s already begun to change his ways and knows that the future of the life he’s been leading can’t be good. Dow does have other lines in the show, and she’s played old hags before, so her performance is as expected – flawless.
There are many children in this show and they appear to be a great group of future Wagon Wheel stars: Playing Tiny Tim this season is Jaxson Byers or Olliver Pettitt, depending which show you see; Brielle Fehlmann as Martha and Alek Fehlmann as Scrooge at 8 years old; Callen Hoskins as Scrooge at 12; and the ensemble of children. They all hit their marks and did very well during Sunday’s matinee.
This “Christmas Carol” is sung throughout, and all the voices are lovely; there’s big dance numbers, and all are impressive. And no matter how many times you’ve seen this story in one form or another, the message never changes and is always relevant: Be a part of the world and celebrate it, celebrate life, celebrate humanity.
Overall, my rating of Wagon Wheel’s “A Christmas Carol” (out of four) is a 3.75.
The weekend performances run through Dec. 18 on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Those interested in details or tickets should call the box office at 574-267-8041, stop by at 2515 E. Center St., Warsaw, or visit wagonwheelcenter.org.
[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092