Norman Bragg Studio, Aylesbury – Saturday 23rd November, Sunday 15th December – Wednesday 18th December 2024
Reviewed by Rachel Clark
4****
What a delight!.
I normally book the theatre on a title and not necessarily check what the full story and background is. This was A Christmas Carol and just expected the traditional play with all the characters on the stage, how wrong I was.
This is a play of the play put on by the Dickens Theatre Co. with only two actors, Samuel Oakes – who plays Ebeneezer Scrooge and Ryan Philpott who plays George Dolby and all other characters.
This is the 10th year of Dickens Theatre Company on tour. There is only a small set and using props of different clothing hanging from a step ladder or two, goes on to create all the characters of the Dickens Novel.
The play is based on a Theatre company going to the theatre to put on the play A Christmas Carol, but the train gets delayed and the show must go on so, with only the cast of two that have turned up. The show is performed with Ebeneezer Scrooge played by Samual Oakes and all other cast members performed by Ryan Philpott. When they first announce it you chuckle and think really! How’s that going to work? but it does and extremely well. The story telling is superb and you feel you are transported into the set and part of the cast just looking on. Ryan did make me giggle when his was playing a part in the Christmas past and his flat cap was offset to the side and I thought of Norman Wisdom and was waiting for him to call for Mr Grimsdale!.
The few children in the audience were a little restless but the adults had there ears and eyes glued to the set as it was so well done, the show had no interval as only 75 ins – but 75 mins of magical storytelling.