San Diego Arts'A Christmas Carol' by North Coast Repertory Theatre
Traditional 'Carol' finds new ways to delight A perennial favorite during the holidays, Dickens’ classic 1843 story “A Christmas Carol” has been adapted countless times on screen, page and stage -- including 30 years of annual productions at The San Diego Repertory Theatre, each set in a different place and time. This year, local playwright Jacqueline Goldfinger takes a crack at the tale in a new adaptation commissioned and lovingly produced by the North Coast Repertory Theatre. There’s no contemporary urban angst, Jazz Age speakeasy or good, bad and the ugly Wild West here. Goldfinger’s adaptation is a traditional one, with costumer Jan Mah’s Victorian garb and a handful of carolers singing vintage Christmas songs. A Greek chorus of sorts, narrating and commenting on the story, they sing throughout, putting the “carol” in “A Christmas Carol.” The North Coast Rep production is marked not only by the musical element, but by its intimate spareness --an economy of set, cast and time.
Ron Choulartan scowles as the miserly meanie Scrooge. Photo: Al Schlegel Under Joe Powers’ direction, the talented cast finds much playful humor in Goldfinger’s script. The eight carolers/ensemble members fluidly morph into each of the speaking characters within the play, a feat requiring a few quick changes and probably some dashing to make entrances. They are also spectators, passers by, eavesdroppers and meddling gossips. They lurch across the stage before the appearance of Marley’s ghost in a sort of Night of the Living Dead send-up. And they give this ostensibly traditional adaptation a new liveliness. The text comes directly from Dickens. But this is distilled Dickens. At 80 minutes with no intermission -- and much of this time spent in caroling -- the show is swift and concise. Sure, the story is elegantly simple: The mean and miserly Scrooge, scared straight by three Christmas ghosts, finds warmth, generosity and goodwill in his heart. Yet while this production may be the ideal length for children in the audience, it does lose some emotional impact in its brevity. Ron Choulartan is stooped, gruff and deliciously nasty as the penny-pinching Scrooge, rendering the character's metamorphosis all the more astounding. He dances across the stage with the perplexed joy of someone given a second chance at life. Still, the transformation feels somewhat rushed since there’s little time to explore the pre-misanthropic Scrooge and past events. John Tessmer’s Cratchit is sober and gentle, and Donal Pugh, with a deep voice and booming laugh, plays the Ghost of Christmas Present like a pagan hedonist with his own entourage of spirited merry makers. Jesse MacKinnon’s rattling chains and tortured pleas as Marley’s ghost are sufficiently creepy, thanks in part to lighting designer Karin Filijan and sound designer Chris Luessmann. Susan Denaker, Patrick Wenk-Wolff and Rachael Van Wormer are charming in a number of roles, while the rest of the ensemble -- Amanda Cowles, Brian Mackey and Austyn Myers as Tiny Tim -- also does good work. Singing together, they evoke the era with strong voices and lovely harmonies. There’s a lot to be cynical about at Christmas time. Like, slogging through another artificially festive night with yet another version of a holiday classic? Absolutely not! North Coast Rep’s production sparkles with appeal, a new twist on the traditional “Carol.”
 Jennifer Chung Klam About the author: Jennifer Chung Klam is an editor at The Daily Transcript and a freelance arts and culture writer. More by this author Subscribe to Arts:
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I am looking for a copy of the picture and article in the May 1983 in the Entertainment Section of the San Diego Tribune which shows the picture of the San Diego Reperatory Theater's Production "CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD" directed by Sam Woodhouse. The picture shows the characters all in a row and signing in Amerian Sign Language the word for "relationship."
I would be ever so grateful if you could direct me accordingly.
Thank you.
Randi King
"Lydia" character
"Children of a Lesser God"