Bah Humbug. Penny-pinching, old man Scrooge (Steve Connell) is back and as nasty as ever in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, playing at Metropolis Performing Arts Center in Arlington Heights through December 24. In this lively rendition of the holiday classic, Scrooge journeys with the spirits of Christmas Past (Melissa Law), Present (Tucker Curtis), and Future (Joshua Nordman) after a visit from the ghost of his business partner, Jacob Marley (Steve Lehtman), who warns Scrooge of the chains he will have to bear if he doesn’t change his ways.
It was adapted for the stage by Krista Scott and directed by Karl Rutherford, with a cast of over 30, including many newcomers to Metropolis. The stage bustles with activity as people go about their holiday business, singing (under the Musical Direction of Ken Rutherford) and dancing (choreographed by Helen Buck) in gaily colored festive costumes (designed by Catherine Tantillo). Child Coach Christine Barnes has 36 children rotating a chorus, four actors each performing in three shows; and the three youngsters who play Tiny Tim (Katherine Jordan, Nora Mangan, and Emily Turner) will perform in approximately 15 shows.
Lighting Designer Joe Mohamed, and Co-Sound Designers William A. Franz and Corey Harrison really bring the ghosts to life, so to speak. Marley’s exit, in particular, is staged in such a way that you may not believe this is live theatre. Set designer John W. Holman does a convincing job at taking us to the streets of England, and then into the house of Scrooge’s employee, Bob Cratchit (Andrew J. Pond), Scrooge’s own bedroom, and the house of his nephew Fred (Matthew Schatz) with just the turning of the buildings exteriors.
It does not matter how old the story is, or how many times it has been done; this production breathes freshness and warmth into grumpy Scrooge who does not remember joy and love, turning him into a delightfully mad, changed man. “God bless us everyone.”
Located just one block from the Metra Station in Arlington Heights, the Metropolis Performing Arts Center is an easily accessible, affordable way to enjoy Chicago Theatre outside of the city proper. For more information about performance times and dates, please visit metropolisarts.com