Through December 21
It’s no wonder Charles Dickens’ wonderful classic, A Christmas Carol, returns annually to Cleveland.
And it’s also no wonder every year the merry GLT troupe moves from the Hanna to the Mimi Ohio Theatre (yes, this is the 37th year there) to tell the story. The Mimi Ohio stage, crafted for Scrooge over the years, sports trap doors, a rear stage wall that splits open (to Hell as well as to cheery Christmas spirits), and hissing fog machines.
The story, adapted by Gerald Freedman (and later refined by Victoria Bussert), begins with the Cleaveland family sitting in their Victorian-era parlor listening to Mrs. Cleaveland (Laura Welsh) reading Dickens’ Christmas story aloud. As Mother reads, the characters drift onstage, now transformed from the people (as children, teens, servants) we saw when the play opened.
When Ebenezer Scrooge (Nick Steen) first yells at his humble clerk, Bob Cratchit (James Alexander Rankin), and then harshly rejects his cheerful nephew Fred (Joe Wegner), it’s clear why the label “scrooge” still means a bad, stingy boss. Steen, Rankin, and Wegner make their characters appealingly real throughout this Christmas Carol saga.
But we see from the first scenes that Scrooge is in serious need of redemption so when his deceased partner, Jacob Marley (David Anthony Smith), comes to him as a ghost, dragging clunky chains across the floor, we’re assured Scrooge well deserves whatever he gets.
And what he gets, as we know, is a visit from ghosts.
First comes The Ghost of Christmas Past (Angela Utrera). Gliding around the stage on Heelys, an ethereal Utrera shows Scrooge that he used to be happier (and nicer). Following that vision, Scrooge learns from two other ghosts: The Ghost of Christmas Present (Jessie Cope Millerv) who leads him on a visit to the brave Cratchit family Christmas (they find joy without money—that’s a shock to Scrooge) and the Ghost of Christmas Future (Ethan Flanagan) who shows “future Scrooge” dead and no one’s sorry.
Ah, but then the Christmas lessons Scrooge has had, do their magic and—he’s a changed man. Steen makes us believe that too.
All in all, over two dozen actors bring 60 characters (and Christmas spirits) to life.
Other members in the outstanding acting ensemble include Casey Casimir, Jodi Dominick, Sutton Garver, Laci Grace Glasser, Jeffrey C. Hawkins, Gabi Ilg, Jillian Kates, Alex Fynn Kenney, Anthony Patrick Kenney, Virginia Lin, Parker Loar, Amber Hurst Martin, Dane McQueen, Marlowe Miller, Lennon Rosiar, Ada Shapiro, Gabe Subervi, Gracie Szy, and M.A. Taylor.
An extravagant production such as this one also takes a talented team to craft believable magic for kids and adults. So, many thanks to Sara Bruner (producing artistic director), David Shimotakahara (choreographer), Matthew Webb (music), May Jo Dondlinger (lighting designer), John Ezell and Gene Emerson Friedman (scenic designers), Jeff Herrmann (lighting designer), Stan Kozak and Tom Mardikes (sound designers), James Scott (costume designer), Robert Waldman (music arranger), and Nicki Cathro and Imani Sade (stage managers).
Bottom Line: The current Great Lakes Theatre version is (as expected from GLT) well-acted, well-paced, and (if you count costumes and sets—I do) very well-decorated. Dickens’ timeless story of love, hope, and redemption resonates with all ages. Opening night everyone seemed engaged and, it seemed, people were more cheerful as they left the theater. (Even a shy little girl wished us a “Merry Christmas” as we all made our way through the gloomy parking garage offsite,)
[Written by Laura Kennelly]
