THEATER REVIEW -- Ushering in the season

Tom Titus

“It’s not really the Christmas season until we see ‘A Christmas Carol’

at South Coast Repertory,” my kids always have said. So let the holidays

begin.

The company’s 22nd rendition of the Charles Dickens classic, adapted

for the stage by SCR’s Jerry Patch, is back with us once more and all’s

right, at least temporarily, with the world. Never mind the religious

significance -- Dickens didn’t -- if the people wishing us ill could

spend two hours with “A Christmas Carol,” perhaps they might view mankind

in a more charitable light.

The overnight transition of Ebenezer Scrooge from a “miser’s miser” to

a veritable Santa Claus has been told and retold millions of times over

the ages -- it’s been on the SCR stage every holiday season since 1980.

Yet it never ceases to warm the heart, and the current presentation is no

exception.

Director John-David Keller, who has taken the helm of every “Carol”

from day one, has peppered a few new wrinkles throughout this year’s

production, including a street vendor’s debate, which opens the show,

between seller Julia Coffey and receiver Art Koustik. A trap-door bit

involving Scrooge in his final spiritual journey also startles.

But the central theme -- Scrooge’s 180-degree conversion to discover

the true meaning of Christmas -- remains steadfast in the hands of Hal

Landon Jr., who has been “bah, humbugging” for all 22 years of the

yuletide tradition. Landon says he’s still trying to nail the character,

but for most local playgoers, he’s the definitive Scrooge.

As repugnantly as Landon projects his character in the opening scenes,

that’s how emphatic his spiritual rebirth is in the show’s last 15

minutes, particularly when he’s delighting in his new attitude upon

awakening. Landon’s gleeful antics, including the famous “hat trick,”

never fail to amuse and inspire.

David Whalen and Devon Raymond took over the roles of Bob Cratchit and

his wife last year, as did Timothy Landfield with the Ghost of Christmas

Present. They return this year in fine form to join the list of SCR

regulars who have performed their roles in most of the previous 21

versions.

These regulars include Koustik (doubling as street scavenger Joe and

the beneficent Mr. Fezziwig), Richard Doyle (Ghost of Christmas Past),

Howard Shangraw (Scrooge’s ebullient nephew), Martha McFarland (Mrs.

Fezziwig, a charity solicitor and a street scrounger), director Keller (a

fellow solicitor) and, particularly, Don Took as the horrific Ghost of

Jacob Marley, Scrooge’s late partner and, eventually, the Spirit of

Christmas Yet to Come.

The children, as expected, inject a heartwarming note into the

proceedings. The Cratchit kids (in Friday’s performance) were Lisa

Ackerman, Gary Iacobucci, Kaitlyn Smith and Kelsey Kraft (as Tiny Tim).

Other youngsters involved in both companies are Neil Aronson, Alexandra

Duffy, Grant Levy, Katey Maynard, Allison Metchkoff, Eden Routledge,

Kelsey Schuetz, Alexander Swanson, Gregory Swanson, Natasha Swanson,

Hayes Thornton and Josh Wasbin.

This year’s production seems orchestrated by the dynamic sound effects

created by Garth Hemphill that punctuate each scene, as well as the

musical background supplied by Dennis Castellano. The scenic designs of

Cliff Faulkner, the costumes of Dwight Richard Odle and the lighting of

Donna and Tom Ruzika all contribute volumes to the retelling of this

holiday classic.

Even after 22 years, South Coast Repertory’s “A Christmas Carol” is

the definitive local holiday treat, a theatrical tradition guaranteed to

put audiences into the holiday spirit.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews

appear Thursdays and Saturdays.

FYI

What: “A Christmas Carol”

Where: South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday,

and noon and 4 p.m. Sunday, with special stagings Dec. 23 at 4 p.m. The

show closes with performances Dec. 24 at noon and 4 p.m.

Cost: $25-$42

Call: (714) 708-5555