At Geyer PAC: ‘A Christmas Carol the Musical’ is transformational
“A Christmas Carol,” the classic story of redemption, remains one of the most powerful and vivid illustrations of the necessity of goodwill to men.
Charles Dickens believed that the ills of a greedy world could be healed by brotherhood and unselfishness.
Geyer Performing Arts Center will present “A Christmas Carol the Musical” based on the Charles Dickens’ novella with an original score of modern flair written by Alan Menken, who also wrote the music for Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Little Mermaid,” on stage Dec. 10-13.
“This version is one that many people are familiar with. It ran for 11 holiday seasons in New York, and was even adapted to a movie in 2004 with Kelsey Grammar. The original creative team took the classic Charles Dicken’s story and adapted it for a spectacle designed for kids of all ages to experience and enjoy. The themes of the story are carried into the beautiful score of Alan Menken and the lyrics of Lynn Ahrens, both of whom are huge names onstage themselves,” said Michael Deibert, who is co-directing the production with Tina Lepidi-Stewart.
There are large company numbers including the opening songs “Jolly, Rich and Fat (Jolly Rich and Fat),” “Nothing To Do With Me,” and “Street Song (Nothing To Do With Me),” as Ebenezer Scrooge (Ben Wren of Irwin) angrily explains to every townsperson he meets, that Christmas is “Humbug,” as well as the very elaborate ensemble dance number “Mr. Fezziwig’s Annual Christmas Ball.”
Scrooge’s first encounter with the spirit world and his deceased partner, Jacob Marley (Brandon Kerr of Irwin) in a surprisingly scary performance of “Link By Link” with ghosts and zombies. Marley reminds Scrooge the links of the chain he forges in life he will carry in death — “your spirit will go forth in death and you shall wear a chain.”
In the classic story of atonement, Scrooge goes on to meet the Ghost of Christmas Past (Brennan Bobbish of Hookstown), Present (Paul Appleby of Connellsville) and Future (Martha Oliver of Scottdale), who show Scrooge the consequences of his ungenerous life.
“I think the story still resonates with us today partly out of holiday tradition, but also because ‘Christmas Carol’ shows us that we can all recognize our faults and still become a better person. It’s hard not to love seeing the transformation of Scrooge from a miser into the delightful embodiment of the spirit of Christmas,” Deibert said.
There are many heartwarming moments in “A Christmas Carol the Musical” including a performance between Tiny Tim (Taney Basinger of Connellsville) and Bob Cratchet (David DeFazio of Penn Trafford), “You Mean More To Me;” the loving “A Place Called Home” with Young Scrooge (Eric Westerman of Yough) and his sweetheart Emily (Kara Grenell of Connellsville) and the moment when Scrooge pleads for a chance to make a difference, “Yesterday, Tomorrow and Today.”
“We learn from Scrooge what happens when we allow materialism and we allow ourselves to be barricaded from the world and when you isolate yourself. What happens to you when you do those things and not allow kindness and laughter and cheer and charity to infiltrate your life. I think that’s what happens to Scrooge and we watch him journey through that,” said Wren. “
“A Christmas Carol the Musical” is filled with moments that will fill the heart with the spirit of the season according to Deibert.
“My favorite scene is during Christmas Together, because it shows us that even though Scrooge is no one’s favorite person, the rest of the characters don’t let that hinder their spirit. As the Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge this, it starts to soften Scrooge’s heart. The music is always cheery,” he said.