Theatre Royal, Windsor – until 16 November 2024
Reviewed by Joanna Huggett
5*****
Around this time of the year, discussion turns to when is it too early to put up the Christmas decorations? Why are the Christmas lights already up and lit in the town centre and when should the Christmas pantomime season really start? So for me, an invitation to go to the Theatre Royal Windsor and watch Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, in early November, was considered maybe a tad early in the calendar.
However, this was an ‘on air’ production and presented as if from the broadcasting studio of a radio show. So despite having a reasonably good appreciation of the story, I was entertained and pleasantly surprised by the novelty factor as well as some clever interpretations along the way.
We are initially presented with a studio of chairs and microphones presented across the front of the stage, and some more interesting apparatus set behind to provide the sound effects, admirably performed throughout by one of the cast.
Then we are joined by the rest of the cast, yellow scripts in hand and dressed in Victorian fancy dress attire to complement the presentation.
Most of the cast performed multiple roles throughout the play, apart from Roy Marsden who played Ebenezer Scrooge from start to finish. He was joined by Jenny Seagrove playing Mrs Cratchit as well as the ghost of Christmas past, Michael Praed playing Bob Cratchit and Master, Robert Duncan playing Marley’s ghost, Fezziwig, and the ghost of Christmas present, Shannon Rewcroft playing Belle, Mrs Dibler and Tiny Tim, Holly Smith playing Mrs Fezziwig and Martha, Ben Stock playing Fred, Young Scrooge and Belle’s husband, and Micheal Workman playing the foley artist, Dibler, and the Ghost of Christmas future.
There’s no need to explain the story, I’m sure we’re all very familiar with the Charles Dickens novel, so beautifully adapted to this “on-air” format, however I have to admit that I’m now just a little more familiar with some of the characters in that book than I was previously, thanks to this format and the entertaining way in which this admirable cast presented it.
It’s a great story, and wonderfully re-told in this charming performance that plants you firmly into the Christmas spirit. And that Christmas spirit is leveraged by Ben Stock to get the whole audience to sing along with a few Christmas carols before the final curtain.
It’s a show that leaves you with a big grin on your face, having enjoyed a good old Christmas classic in an entirely novel format. But be warned, when you leave the theatre, you’ll wonder where are all the Christmas decorations?