‘A Christmas Carol, the Musical’ review
It’s time to start getting into the holiday spirit with a visit to Davis Musical Theatre Company to see Alan Menken’s musical version of the classic “A Christmas Carol”. The story is based on the famous book by Charles Dickens and is set in England in the mid1800s.
The old miser Ebenezer Scrooge (Scott Minor), is visited by the ghost of his dead business partner Jacob Marley (Marin Greenwood) in the night. Following that visit, he is confronted by three ghosts: the ghost of Christmas past (Danette Vassar), the ghost of Christmas present (Omar E. Huerta) and the silent ballet dancing ghost of Christmas Future (Felicia Dunn). After this sleepless and terrifying night, Scrooge’s heart is finally opened and his character is transformed.
Although this is a Christmas show, it does have universal themes that may resonate with people of all faiths. The story reminds us of all the poor and lonely people who need help to survive. It brings up continuing battles for compassion and equality, that are as evident today as they were in 1844 London. Right here in Yolo County, we can look around and see the same issues of homelessness, overworked employees, inaccessible healthcare, food insecurity, and lack of work-life balance.
DMTC has brought this story to life with effective acting, lively dancing and beautiful music. Scott Minor was an excellent choice as Scrooge. In his bio, he recounts his near-death experience of landing in the hospital in 2020 for several months fighting for his life. I could actually feel Scrooge’s mental anguish as he came to terms with what an unkind man he had become. His jubilant revelation after his ghostly visits was truly emotional. Danny Beldi who played both young Scrooge and Bob Crachit gave a solid performance.
The other standout in the show was Marin Greenwood as the ghost of Jacob Marley. He led the most memorable song on the show, “Link by Link” which had the ensemble dressed as zombie-like ghosts all wearing chains. The choreography was fantastic! This one scene was worth the price of admission alone.
Also notable was Danette Vassar who played the ghost of Christmas past, Mrs. Cratchit, and the lamplighter. Even though she is very recognizable on stage, her portrayal of her three such different characters had us hanging on her every word and we enjoyed her beautiful voice.
Another impressive part of this show was the lighting design by Steve Isaacson. DMTC has improved year by year with the latest technology. The period costumes were pleasing and the ensemble blended beautifully when they sang. Director and choreographer Jan Isaacson should be proud of her cast and crew. The whole family will surely enjoy the show.