A Christmas Carol - The Old Vic

This year's cast shared today: www.oldvictheatre.com/stage/event/a-christmas-carol-2024

Not quite, but it feels like it!  Shame, I like them both, but am always happy to see new faces. No Andy Langtree this year either - another person regularly associated with this production!

Int it great being an actor? Beats working for a living!

Oh, buggeration.  I was going to give it a miss this year (I've seen this every year, at least once) but - more lanterns ... ?  

Yes, the lanterns that hang the length of the stage have crept into the stalls gangways, and the edge of the dress circle and Baylis circle. There are also tweaks to the stage lighting which feels fresher, during the pre-show folk section the instrumentalists were having more fun with the music, some subtle harmonies have been added to the carols to make it even more beautiful, and they seem to have blown the budget on snow! It feels like they've tried to freshen things up and it suits a youthful Scrooge, played superbly with excellent comedic touches by John Simm.

😂 Brutal.

I've got my decorations up too!

I can't imagine it'll be rested until it stops making money for the Old Vic.

Seems perverse to stop putting on a play the audiences loves and which makes the theatre a profit.

Why change it up for no reason?

Or maybe lots of us give to charities already and can’t afford to give extra ad hoc?

Yep, nailed it.

It’s been running a few years now but this was my first taste of the Old Vic’s seemingly now traditional production of the classic Charles Dickens tale. I only wish I hadn’t waited quite so long as this really was a wonderful piece of theatre.

It was my first time seeing the space converted to in the round and, complete with a catwalk-style stage and hanging lanterns, the set helped to create a special atmosphere in the auditorium.

The audience is immediately disarmed by actors in full Victorian garb offering out free mince pies and clementines - in the latter’s case, throwing them up to the upper circle! I don’t think it is advertised as ‘immersive’ but it certainly is, with the company milling around until the lights dim.

The piece itself is excellently done. John Simm gives a compelling performance as Ebenezer Scrooge, particularly (can I really give a spoiler alert for this?!) once the old miser sees the error of his ways. Some would say he’s a little too nice, even early on in the play. I want my Scrooge to be scarily cold-hearted to truly appreciate to transformation.

The staging is joyous, complete with the live band and a particular highlight is the gathering of food (from all corners of the auditorium!) for the Christmas feast at the Cratchit house.

A near-perfect representation of the classic Christmas tale and I wouldn’t hesitate to book next year, particularly if given the opportunity to see another actor give their take on Scrooge.

Four stars.