A Christmas Carol

This is the result of a terrific ‘what if’. What if, Hilary Bell had wondered, A Christmas Carol was presented by the Crummles Family, the fantastic theatrical troupe from that other Charles Dickens’ masterpiece Nicholas Nickleby. You’d have Vincent Crummles playing Ebenezer Scrooge, and the rest of the family doubling and trebling, including Ninetta, the Infant Phenomenon, supposedly 10 years old but actually looking 20+.

This was the bright idea behind the Christmas production at the Ensemble, which had the excellent bonus of Hilary’s father, John Bell, playing Vincent/Scrooge. And he gives a fine, assured performance as the great grouch, overturned in a single night, Christmas Eve, with appearances by various ghosts and visionaries.

The evening kicks off with a singalong, which the first night audience enthusiastically supported. With Daryl Wallis playing on-stage piano, we surged through ‘Blue Moon’, ‘Heart and Soul’ and (even more contemporary) ‘Money Money Money’.

Indeed, the bonds of place and time are often broken in Damien Ryan’s production. Bob Cratchit is paid ’15 shillings a week’, yet works on an updated Apple iPad. And costumes vary between periods: Scrooge wears very modern ties and suits in his office. No matter: the idea of the Crummles staging a version of Dickens’ great mystic vision is a fine one.

Into the mix go songs by Phillip Johnston, mainly sung by the Infant Phenomenon herself. Emily McKnight brings joy and a good voice to these, and Daryl Wallis drives them along at the piano. McKnight also manipulates the puppet that is Tiny Tim, fragile, ready to break into pieces at any minute.

Also in the cast are Valerie Bader as a cheerful Mrs Crummles, Jay James-Moody as a put-upon Bob Cratchit, and Anthony Taufa as a large, over-the-top Christmas Present who makes one truly surprising entrance from under the stage.

All are bound together in this tight, bright production by Damien Ryan. Be careful about bringing children, however, as two in the front row were driven deep into their parents’ arms.

Frank Hatherley

Photographer: Jaimi Joy