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Event
A CHICAGO CHRISTMAS CAROL - A Musical Adventure
2010 REVIEWS:
"Crown City Theatre's A Chicago Christmas Carol is one big Christmas present to the entire community, reminding one and all of the urgency of humility and generosity.
Lamb is a delight as Scrooge, never going over the top, but making him thoroughly unlikeable until the last chapter. Dave Berges is terrific as Marley. With beanpole height he towers over Scrooge making his ghostly chain shaking scene frightening and funny simultaneously. Louis Silvers is a hoot as the Ghost of Christmas Present, milking and savoring each and every word and gesture. Among the ladies, outstanding contributions are made by Paton Ashbrook as Isabella Fezziwig, Susan Grozier as Maria Jessup, an irate evicted tenant with her young daughter Christine (Sadie Calvano) in tow, and Anne Mannal superb in four roles including Headmistress. Kudos as well to everyone else.
Keiko Moreno's dark set design serves well for both interior and exterior locales. Stephanie Pease provides some lively choreography, and Brent Beerman keeps the pacing nice and tight.
The music is mostly uplifting, with the beautiful ballad "Robinson Crusoe" sung cherishingly by Lamb, my favorite.
This is a wonderful representation of the Dickensian classic, proving once more that good theatre is right in our backyard. Crown's show rings in the holiday season with gusto." - Broadwayworld.com
"WOW! William A. Reilly and Gary Lambâs A Chicago Christmas Carol (is) a striking musical adaptation of the Dickens favorite with an added dose of darkness and social revolutionary spirit. ...emotionally powerful and inspirational... highly rewarding... fine performances (from) its very talented cast. Lambâs excellent work as Scrooge benefits from his first-rate acting chops and resonant pipes. ...scene-stealing turns by Dave Berges as Jacob Marley, Anne Mannal as the Headmistress, Paul Marchegiani as Freddy, and most particularly Louis Silvers, stopping the show with his razzmatazz. There will be Christmas Carols aplenty this season, but none quite like A Chicago Christmas Carol, a fascinating look back at a time when money-grubbing moguls shared the same city streets with victims of abject poverty. Sound familiar?" - Stagescenela.com
"Thoroughly enjoyed a great show." - NBClosangeles.com
Not only Marley, but the ghosts of many sordid individuals, help the spirits of Past, Present and Future turn Ebenezer Scrooge from his pitiful, angry existence to one of great joy. Taking part of its premise from Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" and Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" writer and composer William A. Reilly and Lyricist Gary Lamb turn this timeless classic into a musical for all times. With the inclusion of whores, police on the take, a recently homeless mother and her young daughter as well as tiny tim being a teenage unionizer, the story we all remember has been re-imagined into a musical that is no longer and english tale, but an american institution.
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LocationCrown City Theater
11031 Camarillo Street
North Hollywood, CA 91602
United States
Categories
| Minimum Age: 9 |
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: No |
| Wheelchair Accessible: No |
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