Early Christmas with a spooky Scrooge
10:54am Wednesday 9th November 2011 in Theatre
Scrooge
Adlington music and Arts Society
Adlington Community Centre
Until Saturday
Now the fireworks are over and our thoughts start turning to the festive season, what better story (outside of the nativity) captures the spirit of Christmas than Charles Dicken’s tale of the
miserly Eberneezer Scrooge and his transformation into caring philanthropist.
The talented team of Marje Brayshaw (Director) and Steven Sandiford (Musical Director) have done it again with an excellent production of this popular musical. The performance was slick and energetic, and I was particularly impressed by the effortless scene changes – one moment we were in a London street, the next in Scrooge’s bedroom, eventually in Hell itself, and it was all achieved with great aplomb with the aid of backcloths, suitable furniture and an efficient stage crew.
Connor O’Beirne excels as Scrooge, combining grumpiness and pathos with a flair for comedy. Ashley Hambook is wonderfully eerie as Jacob Marley and Chris Higson is magnificent as the Ghost of Christmas present. Jacob Hodgson gives us an endearing Tiny Tim, and Young Eberneezer (Rob Armstrong) and Isobel (Victoria Birchall) make a charming couple.
Accomplished harmonies by principles and chorus, colourful period costumes, and genuinely spooky effects add to this very entertaining production. Get down to see it and give yourself an early Christmas present. Runs until Saturday including Saturday matinee.
Peter Haslam
