Dec 3 - Dec 21, 2008
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| From the composers of The Sound of Music, Little Shop of Horrors, Fiddler on the Roof, Willy Wonka, Jekyll and Hyde, Ragtime, Victor/Victoria, Funny Girl and Gypsy -- and of course, the timeless story by Charles Dickens -- all whipped up into one glorious gift of musical theatre enchantment, certain to thrill everyone at the holidays! |
| Based on Charles Dickens' classic tale A Christmas Carol |
| Lighting by Stage Manager Costumes Entire Production Designed and Directed by |
| CAST |
ANDREA STRAYER
BLAIN BERDAN
PATTI BYRNE
LOUISE CASCONE
VINCE CASCONE
DEAN DEFFETT
BOB DEUTSCH
STEPHANIE DOUGLAS
JESSICA FREY
LARRY GIBBS
DAMIEN GULDE
DAVID HAINES
SANDI HORWITZ
CASILDA JOSEPH
KOBY LEE
MAX LEE
PETER LOUCAS
CAROLINE MORO-DALICANDRO
JESSICA PHILLIPS
SUSAN SANDERS
OLIVIA STUPKA
LILLY TAYLOR
BLAIN BERDAN
PATTI BYRNE
LOUISE CASCONE
VINCE CASCONE
DEAN DEFFETT
BOB DEUTSCH
STEPHANIE DOUGLAS
JESSICA FREY
LARRY GIBBS
DAMIEN GULDE
DAVID HAINES
SANDI HORWITZ
CASILDA JOSEPH
KOBY LEE
MAX LEE
PETER LOUCAS
CAROLINE MORO-DALICANDRO
JESSICA PHILLIPS
SUSAN SANDERS
OLIVIA STUPKA
LILLY TAYLOR
| Isabel Fezziwig Mrs. Fezziwig Emily George Ghost of Christmas Past Ghost of Christmas Present Ghost of Christmas Future Martha Cratchit Jacob Marley Young Scrooge/Fred Tom Jenkins Cynthia Lucy Tiny Tim Peter Cratchit/Boy Scrooge Bob Cratchit Mrs. Cratchit Ethel Mrs. Dilber Belinda Cratchit Fan |
| Pictured: Lloyd Dean as Scrooge and Koby Lee as Tiny Tim |
Theatre review by Mark Andrew Lawrence
A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale of greed, selfishness, and redemption has been the
source of countless film and stage adaptations over the years. Feeling that none of the existing musical versions
perfectly captured the spirit of Dickens’ tale, director Joe Cascone successfully sought permission to use
numbers from several previous incarnations and created his own musical adaptation called Scrooge! The show
was last seen at Fairview Library Theatre in 1999, but this season The Civic Light Opera Company has revived
it with the original star, Lloyd Dean back again in the title role.
Dean creates a vivid portrait of the miserly Scrooge, described in the opening number as “The Stingiest Man in
Town.” Intense and unforgiving, his song “I Hate Christmas” is loaded with so much vile you wonder how the
Christmas Ghosts will ever work their magic. It’s a star performance, and so rewarding to have a chance to see
it again.
Dickens' colourful gallery of unforgettable characters is brought to life in a cinematic staging that bubbles with
inventive ideas. The production is ingeniously designed and enhanced by Gareth Crew's fine lighting that allows
a unit set by David Haines and Blain Berdan to have both an indoor and an outdoor feel as required.
Cascone’s design aids in speeding the story along, while still offering plenty of moments to savour. From the
tender “Winter Was Warm” beautifully and expressively sung by Andrea Barker as Scrooge’s long-ago love,
Isabel to the lively “Thank You Very Much” sung by the ensemble enthusiastically led by David Haines.
Damien Gulde portraying Scrooge as a young man subtly displays the shift in Scrooge’s thinking during
“Money is Your Very Best Friend,” a duet with Larry Gibbs playing Jacob Marley. You can literally see the
seeds of Scrooge’s miserly behaviour being sewn.
In one of the show’s most touching interpolations Peter Loucas as Bob Cratchit offers a simple and ultimately
heartbreaking “Happy Christmas Little Friend” to young Tiny Tim, winningly portrayed by Koby Lee. On
balance there is the amusing “Abundance & Charity” number choreographed by Stephanie Douglas that opens
Act Two.
Douglas also appears as the mysterious Ghost of Christmas Future, joining fellow Ghosts Bob Deutsch as the
wry Ghost of Christmas Present, and Dean Deffett whose appearance as the Ghost of Christmas Past was a
highlight of the first act.
Scrooge! overflows with music, containing some two-dozen songs. The idea is to present the story as an
operetta with the musical numbers offering different perspectives on the characters and their situations. It’s a
feast that will leave you feeling stuffed but satisfied.
A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale of greed, selfishness, and redemption has been the
source of countless film and stage adaptations over the years. Feeling that none of the existing musical versions
perfectly captured the spirit of Dickens’ tale, director Joe Cascone successfully sought permission to use
numbers from several previous incarnations and created his own musical adaptation called Scrooge! The show
was last seen at Fairview Library Theatre in 1999, but this season The Civic Light Opera Company has revived
it with the original star, Lloyd Dean back again in the title role.
Dean creates a vivid portrait of the miserly Scrooge, described in the opening number as “The Stingiest Man in
Town.” Intense and unforgiving, his song “I Hate Christmas” is loaded with so much vile you wonder how the
Christmas Ghosts will ever work their magic. It’s a star performance, and so rewarding to have a chance to see
it again.
Dickens' colourful gallery of unforgettable characters is brought to life in a cinematic staging that bubbles with
inventive ideas. The production is ingeniously designed and enhanced by Gareth Crew's fine lighting that allows
a unit set by David Haines and Blain Berdan to have both an indoor and an outdoor feel as required.
Cascone’s design aids in speeding the story along, while still offering plenty of moments to savour. From the
tender “Winter Was Warm” beautifully and expressively sung by Andrea Barker as Scrooge’s long-ago love,
Isabel to the lively “Thank You Very Much” sung by the ensemble enthusiastically led by David Haines.
Damien Gulde portraying Scrooge as a young man subtly displays the shift in Scrooge’s thinking during
“Money is Your Very Best Friend,” a duet with Larry Gibbs playing Jacob Marley. You can literally see the
seeds of Scrooge’s miserly behaviour being sewn.
In one of the show’s most touching interpolations Peter Loucas as Bob Cratchit offers a simple and ultimately
heartbreaking “Happy Christmas Little Friend” to young Tiny Tim, winningly portrayed by Koby Lee. On
balance there is the amusing “Abundance & Charity” number choreographed by Stephanie Douglas that opens
Act Two.
Douglas also appears as the mysterious Ghost of Christmas Future, joining fellow Ghosts Bob Deutsch as the
wry Ghost of Christmas Present, and Dean Deffett whose appearance as the Ghost of Christmas Past was a
highlight of the first act.
Scrooge! overflows with music, containing some two-dozen songs. The idea is to present the story as an
operetta with the musical numbers offering different perspectives on the characters and their situations. It’s a
feast that will leave you feeling stuffed but satisfied.