Review of Ronald Combs Operatic Version of a Christmas Carol

            If someone described you as a "horrible, sharp-as-flint, evil-eyed, ill-omened, hateful, shriveled –up, self contained, solitary old oyster," wouldn't you want to change that? Sadly enough that's what the whole town seems to think of old man Ebenezer Scrooge, especially around the joyful Christmas time. Scrooge has no interest in charity or being flexible towards his honest, hard working and unrewarded clerk, Bob Cratchit. However, Scrooge's mind will soon change with the help of three Christmas ghosts; past, present and Christmas Yet to Come.

            Ronald Combs was a former music professor in Northeastern's music department, and he took the memorable Charles Dickens's novel, A Christmas Carol, and put an operatic spin on it.  What's the difference between any other versions of A Christmas Carol you may have seen and this one is, in this operatic version the dialogue within the production is sung not spoken. As well as the fact that because it is operatic, there is a different singing style used in this show. The style being that the music in this show isn't very pop sounding like it is in musicals, and the phrases of music have a more flowing feel (which in the music world is called legato).

            Overall I really enjoyed watching NEIU's A Christmas Carol! I especially liked the fact that the character of Scrooge sung his "bah humbug". The costumes (especially Marley's) and set were amazing! I wasn't expecting a full production of the show, because normally the spring production is the bigger one out of the two. However as soon as I saw the set, I fell in love with it and was excited to see the show.  Although this problem didn't affect me because of where I sat in the audience, there was definitely some discomfort from the audience that was sitting right in front of stage left. There seemed to be a great amount of fog that drifted off the stage and onto those audience members. I don't know if there is a way to keep all of that fog from getting into the audience, but it's definitely something I think the director should look into for a future show with fog. Aside from the fog invasion, I think this production was put together beautifully! Everyone looked and sang beautifully, well except for the ghost of Christmas Yet to Come who was definitely creepy and mute. If NEIU were to put on Ronald Combs's operatic version of A Christmas Carol again, I would encourage anyone who likes the whole story of a Christmas Bah Humbug to see it! It really brings to life the "carol" into "A Christmas Carol." Overall I would give this show the full "HO HO HO" rating for its amazing set, costume, music and overall essence that seems to capture "A Christmas Carol" in a whole new light.