For me at least, the Christmas Season doesn’t truly get underway in Milwaukee until the Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s presentation of A Christmas Carol opens at the Pabst Theater. Even though you know the story, this adaptation by Director and Rep Artistic Director Mark Clements is the one to see. And even if you have seen it recently, this would be a good year to make the time to see it again. I felt some extra magic this year…yes the story is unchanged although Clements version brings the core story cleanly to the fore. And the set and lighting once again put us in awe of the theatrical spectacle brought to bear in the elegant Pabst Theater.
Yes, there is all that but certainly much of the magic is from the cast itself. Clements has always excelled at bringing the Dickens’ characters to life with just the right actors. And this year of course is no exception, but for me the cast felt immensely connected and involved than ever. Bravo.
But A Christmas Carol would be impossible to make real without the ideal actor in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. And the Rep is fortunate to have the very popular and ever versatile Matt Daniels for their Scrooge. After a number of years in the role now, he simply inhabits Scrooge. From the initial sinister Bah Humbug persona at play’s open to the defiant old sod in the face of Marley’s Ghost and the Ghost of Christmas Past to the fearful and resentful toy of the other Ghosts to finally the jubilant Scrooge who’s found redemption, Daniels doesn’t seem to be acting at all. Hopefully he’s feeling as much joy in the role as the joy he is giving the audience so that he stays the course in the future.
And beyond the perfect Scrooge, the story is untold without a proper Marley’s Ghost or the other Ghosts of Christmas. Mark Corkins returns as Marley and feels the weight of his chains and puts the initial scares into Scrooge quite effectively. A ghostly presence not easily forgotten. The Ghost of Christmas Present makes a startlingly eerie entrance at the start of Act !!. In his glowing green satin Santa inspired costume, Todd Denning just dominates the stage…appropriately dominating a now very fearful Scrooge.
But it is the Ghost of Christmas Past that is the pivot point in our story. Keven Kantor looms large over the stage and sets a high bar for the other ghosts. Controlling and mocking Scrooge, they easily move from a soaring and screaming Valkyrie like presence to a booming and dominating spirit who finally breaks Scrooge’s defiance.
Two other stand out characters are of course, Fred, Scrooge’s nephew, and Bob Cratchit. Reese Madigan does an outstanding job as the resilient Bob Crachit, from subservient clerk at Scrooge and Marley, to doting father at home. And Jordan Anthony Arrendondo is ideal as the effervescent and social Fred, even in the face of his uncle’s various Bah Humbug retorts.
Clements’ version of Dickens’ London is aswirl with constant movement, song, and dance. From the many carolers, townspeople, the staff at Fezziwig’s, to the alms collectors, there is always activity as befits a major city street. All the more events to keep us focused on the story being told.
A Christmas Carol runs from now through December 24, 2024 at the Pabst Theater downtown. Additional information and ticket ordering can be found here. Run time is about 2 hours and 10 minutes including one intermission. Recommended Age: 6 and up.
Extra Credit Reading: Program for A Christmas Carol is here.
All photos courtesy of the Milwaukee Rep.
Added note 12/4/2024: Extra Extra Credit Reading: A little tidbit from Jim Higgins at The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about the history of some of the props in A Christmas Carol.
And yes, it still snows inside the Pabst Theater on ‘Christmas’!
