Saturday, November 30, 2024

Theater Review: A Christmas Carol


                      Sean Murray as Scrooge

Christmas is coming. The goose is getting fat, and so is this old lady, who always likes to cruise the pre-show goodies for a new yummy to try.


But never mind, it’s theater we’re here for, and Jacob Marley et al. (okay, he’s dead, don’t waste my time telling me) do not disappoint in Cygnet Theatre’s smashing and extremely musical version of Sean Murray’s adaptation of the old Christmas standby “A Christmas Carol.” 


I took great notes (I guess), but I can’t read ‘em because it was too dark to see what I was writing. No complaints; you know the story better than I do, and all you need do is grab a couple of tickets and a friend and hie thee down to Old Town for the show, which runs through Christmas Eve. 


You especially need to do that when you consider that Murray himself plays the old geezer Scrooge, and we get to see how he became the nasty old coot he is at the beginning of the show, yelling at the young, snorting at the women collecting money for needy children, you know the type.


This group includes Cygnet regulars Eileen Bowman, Megan Carmitchel, Jasmine January, Patrick McBride and Allen Lucky Weaver, not to mention everybody’s favorite goofball David McBean, who has such a wonderful time that we can’t help enjoying his antics too.


Cygnet director and star Murray wrote the script and of course gave himself some choice parts as well.


The original score (and it’s a gem) was written by Billy Thompson, with adaptations by Murray himself. Patrick Marion is the music director and keyboardist.


Kudos to choreographer Katie Banville, who put some great dance steps into operation here.


This is one of the longer (and more original) iterations of the story that I’ve seen, lasting some two hours plus and including a 15-minute intermission. 


It’s a terrific show. Do yourself a favor and get down to see it. It runs through Christmas Eve.



The details


“A Christmas Carol” plays through Christmas Eve at Cygnet Theatre, 4040 Twiggs Street in Old Town.


Tickets: (approximately $39-$73) available at boxoffice@cygnettheatre.com or (619) 337-1525


The box office is open Tuesday through Sunday from 12pm-6pm (or until the performance begins)



Christmas is coming. The goose is getting fat, and so is this old lady, who always likes to cruise the pre-show goodies for a new yummy to try.


But never mind, it’s theater we’re here for, and Jacob Marley et al. (okay, he’s dead, don’t waste my time telling me) do not disappoint in Cygnet Theatre’s smashing and extremely musical version of Sean Murray’s adaptation of the old Christmas standby “A Christmas Carol.” 


I took great notes (I guess), but I can’t read ‘em because it was too dark to see what I was writing. No complaints; you know the story better than I do, and all you need do is grab a couple of tickets and a friend and hie thee down to Old Town for the show, which runs through Christmas Eve. 


You especially need to do that when you consider that Murray himself plays the old geezer Scrooge, and we get to see how he became the nasty old coot he is at the beginning of the show, yelling at the young, snorting at the women collecting money for needy children, you know the type.


This group includes Cygnet regulars Eileen Bowman, Megan Carmitchel, Jasmine January, Patrick McBride and Allen Lucky Weaver, not to mention everybody’s favorite goofball David McBean, who has such a wonderful time that we can’t help enjoying his antics too.


Cygnet director and star Murray wrote the script and of course gave himself some choice parts as well.


The original score (and it’s a gem) was written by Billy Thompson, with adaptations by Murray himself. Patrick Marion is the music director and keyboardist.


Kudos to choreographer Katie Banville, who put some great dance steps into operation here.


This is one of the longer (and more original) iterations of the story that I’ve seen, lasting some two hours plus and including a 15-minute intermission. 


It’s a terrific show. Do yourself a favor and get down to see it. It runs through Christmas Eve.



The details


“A Christmas Carol” plays through Christmas Eve at Cygnet Theatre, 4040 Twiggs Street in Old Town.


Tickets: (approximately $39-$73) available at boxoffice@cygnettheatre.com or (619) 337-1525


The box office is open Tuesday through Sunday from 12pm-6pm (or until the performance begins)









Top photo: Sean Murray as Scrooge

Bottom photo: David McBean

    

Bottom photo: David McBean

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