by Tony Annicone
Trinity Repertory Company ushers the holiday season in with their live yearly presentation of their 46th production of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens adapted by Adrian Hall and Richard Cumming. This is Trinity’s third show of its 59th season and is performed in 90 minutes with no intermission. This show’s underlying themes of charity, forbearance and benevolence are universal and are equally relevant to people of all religions and backgrounds especially now after the Big Lie Theory of the 2020 election is still being promoted by the former, twice impeached ex-President, the important hearings about the Insurrection of the Capital on January 6th with fingers crossed for a conclusive outcome and the still contentious climate of this country observed in the recent 2022 midterm election. This familiar tale is about the curmudgeonly miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by the ghosts of Marley, Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come who hope to change in this version her destiny and save her soul to ultimately to discover the true meaning of Christmas. Director Aileen Wen McGroody directs this show for the first time. She creates a huge encompassing tale which needs more focus at times in telling of this Christmas tale. McGroody explores bigotry, gay marriage, people of different cultures and economic standings. The set is starker than in years past and doesn’t come into full color until Christmas Present appears and near the very end of the show. The process of Scrooge finding a way to reenter a world again that is what “A Christmas Carol is all about and she brings the cast, orchestra onstage to witness Scrooge’s reconciliation with her nephew, Fred which is one of the most poignant moments of the evening. Aileen brings the comic moments to the forefront this year and uses a great deal of musical numbers to convey the story. Musical director Andrew Smithson brings out the best in the cast for their many songs, plays lead keyboards and conducts a 6 piece orchestra. Choreographer Shura Baryshnikov creates the dances for the show. The enthusiastic audience thoroughly enjoy the show with thunderous applause at curtain call.
This version opens with the History of how the land where Trinity Rep is located once belonged to the Indian tribes and the city of Providence was built up from the Slave trade which displays the ill treatment of them. This version is inclusive in its vision. It opens with cast member assembling onstage in winter attire and then they break into “Ding Dong Merrily on High” and abruptly the show flashes back to Marley’s death seven years ago with “Dies Irae” funeral song. It displays where Scrooge’s mindset is placed on business not in personal relationships. Then the upbeat “Scrooge and Marley” occurs with Marley singing a warning to Scrooge. She warns of the three spirits coming to save Scrooge from the horrible fate that became Marley.
Leading this 18 member cast this year is Phyllis Kay as Scrooge. She runs the gamut of emotions as the curmudgeonly miser. Her comic moments include yelling at nephew Fred, her employee, Bob Cratchit and the almsmen. However, the power of the role occurs when Phyllis sees herself as a little boy Scrooge in Fan’s death scene, as young man Scrooge in the breakup with Rei, and when realization of the death of Tiny Tim. The audience leaps to their feet marveling at her strong dramatic performance in these scenes. The transformation sequence is amazing to behold as she speaks directly to the audience. The audience discovers how Scrooge has been turned into a better person by learning from the past, present and future on how to gain redemption at last. Phyllis delivers a powerhouse performance in this role as she convinces the audience of this transformation into a more kindly, jovial person. Bravo on job very well done.
The first ghost to scare the audience is Rachael Warren as Jacob Marley. She enters through the audience scares not only Scrooge but the entire audience with her emphatic delivery of these lines. She moves from her death scene while cast members disrobe as she dies. Rachael forces Scrooge to listen to her with her three shopping baskets full of her chains and brings a dire warning to mend these terrible ways.
The three ghosts are excellently played in this version. Jenny Nguyen Nelson is a strong as Christmas Past as she enters from the rafters parachuting onto the stage. She chastises him as they look back on how Scrooge enjoyed Christmas as a child with her sister, Fan and at the Fezziwig’s party when she fell in love with Rei. Her entrance as the ghost is stunning as she brings Scrooge on a journey to watch the scenes of his past. Jenny delivers the goods in this role.
Phyllis does an excellent job as Child Scrooge in the school master scene while Kiera Nagle does a splendid turn as Fan when she rescues her brother from the school to bring him home.(Cameron Miller alternates as Fan.) Rei is played with a great deal of warmth and charm by Michael Hisamoto. He gives the needed pathos in the breakup segment. Jenna Lea Scott is excellent as the schoolteacher reprimanding Boy Scrooge as she is as the poor woman who owes Scrooge money in the opening scene. Her loving father is well played by Jeff Ararat and he captures the joie de vivre of Topper in the game scene with Fred and Lucas. The levity in this scene is provided by Dereks Thomas as Mr. Fezziwig. He leaves you laughing merrily at his jolly behavior as this kindly benefactor of the past Christmas celebrations, in the present plays Fred’s husband Lucas and also is comical as Mort, the Mortician in the future scene.
Angela Brazil is fabulous as Christmas Present. Her entrance has to be seen to be believed as she weaves her way through the aisles of the audience. The spirit not only spreads Christmas cheer but teaches Scrooge how to be kinder to her fellow man. She cajoles him as they observe the suffering around them especially with the Spanish speaking Cratchit family where Scrooge exclaims, she can’t understand them, and the translation appears on the wall behind them. Angela brings a lot of joy to the audience in this role as well as in the role of Old Jo who buys Scrooge’s belongings. Gunnar Manchester is terrific as Fred. He brings a great deal of energy to this role. He displays his expertise while playing the accordion. His joy at his aunt’s transformation is marvelous and is heartfelt as they hug before the end of the show. Cameron Miller/Keira Nagle also play Christmas Future who frightens the audience with her ominous presence and demeanor while showing Scrooge, the Old Jo scene and the death of Tim.
Luis Rivera Figueroa plays the likeable Bob Cratchit wonderfully. He has some comic moments early on in the show but displays his dramatic side later in the show. Mrs. Cratchit is played beautifully by Jihan Haddad who chastises Scrooge for her bad behavior. The talented children are played by Giselle Vides as Martha, Owen Richard as Peter, Eleanor Brown-Araujo as Belinda and Charlotte Hall as Tiny Tim. (Victoria Ruiz, Samuel Memery, Deyehla Debrito-Zuendoki and Jianni Amaral alternate as Martha, Peter, Belinda and Tim.) Claire Koenig is a hoot as Mrs. Dilber, the launderess who is shocked at Scrooge’s changing from a curmudgeon to loving Christmas. The Turkey kid wins much laughter, too and is well played by Malik Cross/Emily Mallon. The sight of this turkey will leave you rolling in the aisles. So, for an annual season treat, make sure to see this different take of “A Christmas Carol” at Trinity Rep. It will help you get into the Christmas spirit which we all need this year. www.trinityrep.com
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (3 November to 1 January)
Trinity Repertory Company, 201 Washington St, Providence, RI
1(401)351-4242
