The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Share the magic of ‘A Christmas Carol’
There’s no better sign of the festive holiday than Hartford Stages’s annual viewing of its own Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas.”
This 21st annual vision of flying ghosts and fatted holiday turkey will run until Saturday, Dec. 29.
Michael Preston clearly loves his part as Scrooge, first in all his mean and cranky stinginess and ultimately in his redeeming benevolence and good cheer.
Preston revels in the role as the return of his former partner Jacob Marley (Noble Shropshire), dead lo these seven years,appears to warn Scrooge that he will be visited by a trio of specters.
Before he can say “bah, humbug,” Scrooge finds himself first in the company of the Spirit of Christmas Past (Rebecka Jones) as he is forced to relive memorable holiday moments thathave already occurred and perhaps regret the choices he has made.
Along his journey, Scrooge encounters his faithful housekeeper (Noble Shropshire), his clerk Bob Cratchit (Robert Han-
non Davis), his nephew Fred (Terrell Donnell Sledge) and three vendors whoare in debt to him (Rebecka Jones, Alan Rust, John-Andrew Morrison) as well as dozens more.
Next, Alan Rust entertains with his glorious rendition of the Spirit of Christmas Present, forcing Scrooge to see with clarity the joy he is missing today. Finally the Spirit of Christmas Future, as Death, completes the picture and brings Scrooge the image of what his end, unmissed and unloved, could be.
Michael Wilson adapted and originally directed this most mystical and magical Christmas treat. Rachel Alderman continues his tradition, adding her own personal touches to this beloved tale.
Learn how one man who considers himself afloat in a world of fools finds that there is much to treasure and cherish every day, and most especially on Dec. 25.
For tickets ($25 and up), call Hartford Stage, 50 Church St., Hartford, at 860-527-5151 or visit www.hartfordstage.org.
Performances are Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.