12/2/2009 6:00:00 AM 'Scrooge' lifts everyone's spirits
By Kathie Meyer of The Leader
Thank you very much. Attending Sunday's Key City Public Theatre performance of "Scrooge The Musical" was the nicest thing I did for myself last weekend.
Greeting the audience was a stage adorned with deceptively simple blue Victorian street-scene panel dividers, and two street urchins roamed the aisle selling trinkets during the pre-show - setting the mood for the opening song. And from that moment, the second the first note was sung, KCPT's stage magically grew larger to accommodate this ambitious production and all of its 25 cast members. It was like having a really good seat at Seattle Repertory Theatre.
Of course, most of us already know Scrooge's 166-year-old transformative Christmas story. I believe I first encountered this Charles Dickens' tale as portrayed by Mr. Magoo. This, however, was no cartoon version. Director Denise Fleener and her merry band of actors and artistic staff did an admirable job of bringing each and every character to life, no matter how small the part or duty.
At first unlikable and then later loveable, Daniel Stengel's yin-yang performance as Ebenezer Scrooge was brilliantly dastardly and delightful down to every eyebrow twitch and grimace. When he delivered the line, "I have the chance to change," I surprised myself by tearing up.
Unbelievable as it may seem, the ghosts of Christmas Past and Present nearly upstaged the poor man with their presence. When the Ghost of Christmas Past (Liz Dennison) made her surprise appearance, the woman behind me exclaimed, "That was fantastic!" Of all of the lovely costumes designed by Erin McNamara for this show, this one was the most stunning, and Dennison was poised and graceful in it.
Normally that would be a hard act to follow, but nobody is going to mess with the Ghost of Christmas Present (Catherine McNabb). They could have done an entire show surrounding this character, not unlike Lewis Carroll's Queen of Hearts, and I would have been pleased. As she stepped offstage delivering her last line, I'm sure everyone else in the audience was disappointed too.
The actors gave this their all - from Tiny Tim (Brennan LaBrie), Bob Cratchit (Jeff Randall), Isabel (Amanda Steurer), Bob Marley's Ghost (Jeff Kelety), the high-steppin' Tom Jenkins (Scott Noelle) and on down the cast list. Although many of them were making their KCPT debut, you wouldn't know it. Nearly everyone's biographical notes indicate a deep well of experience prior to this show. Considering the set, props, costumes, music (Beth Noelle and Madeline Levy) and acting, this is the best buy for your entertainment dollar this holiday season.
If I had a bugle, I would blow it.
"Scrooge The Musical" runs through Sunday, Dec. 20 on selected dates. Key City Playhouse is located at 419 Washington St. General admission is $18 for Friday and Saturday evening performances. Students pay $10 for all shows. Pay-what-you-wish night is Thursday, Dec. 3. Two special nights are scheduled: "Family Night" and "Holiday Benefit." To learn dates and times, visit keycitypublictheatre.org.
Advance tickets for all performances are available at Quimper Sound Music and Media, 230 Taylor. For credit card orders or group sales, call 379-0195.
Reader Comments
Posted: Friday, December 04, 2009
Article comment by:
Paula Goldwyn
It kills me that I'm not able to see this show in-person (being stuck here in Kansas, and all)! If there's ANY way I could get my hands on a videotaped performance (hint hint) I'd •sure• appreciate it! I'd pay some big bucks for it, too! (And promise not to charge any of my friends to watch it with me. Heehee.)
Congrats again, Brennan! I'll have you know that you're one of my fave "followees" (is that a real word, yet?!) on Twitter.com (@KidReporter) and that's quite an accomplishment for a 10-year-old, I'd say! Just one more in a lifelong list of amazing successes you'll achieve, I'm sure! Keep up the great work! It's gonna pay off big-time for you!
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