Kate Herbert Theatre Reviews

Kate Herbert is a Melbourne theatre reviewer at Arts Weekly 3MBS & formerly The Age (2022), Herald Sun, Melbourne Times. Kate is a director & playwright (21 plays). Pub. Currency Press. Teacher: Scriptwriting & Theatre Industry since 2019 at Melb Polytechnic; Worked as actor, comedian, improviser, teacher: Acting, Improvisation, Playwriting, was Head of Drama NMIT, Coordinator Writing/ Editing, Swinburne Uni 2010-18. Reviews at theage.com.au/culture/theatre or heraldsun.com.au/arts

Sunday, 8 December 2024

KATE HERBERT Arts Weekly3MBS-Sat7 Dec 2024

Click here: to listen: KATE HERBERT Arts Weekly3MBS-Sat7 Dec 2024

In this, my final radio review spot on 3MBS Arts Weekly for 2024, I talk with Phillipa Edwards and Nick Tolhurst about Mathew Warchus’s production of A Christmas Carol with Erik Thompson as Scrooge.

Then, I talk about highlights of 2024 theatre, upcoming summer shows and ways to view theatre online via ATL and National Theatre at Home.

A Christmas Carol, 29 Nov 2024 ***** (5)

THEATRE

A Christmas Carol, version by Jack Thorne, conceived by Matthew Warchus from Charles Dickens’s novel

An Old Vic production.

At Comedy Theatre Melbourne until January 2025.

Reviewer: Kate Herbert.

Stars: ***** (5).

I reviewed the 2024 production on Arts Weekly on Sat 7 Dec 2024.

2024 A Christmas Carol_Erik Thomson, Ensemble_c EugeneHyland

Matthew Warchus’s exhilarating production of A Christmas Carol, adapted by Jack Thorne from Dickens’ ripping yarn, is a very Christmassy feast of carols, choral harmonies, mass bell ringing, snow, faith, hope and charity and even a veritable feast of fruits, vegetables, meat platters, puddings and breads all sliding down from the balcony along draped sheets to the stage and into wicker baskets. Yes, real food – mostly.

The pre-show musical entertainment includes actors dispensing mince pies and mandarins to audience members who wave furiously at actors to get their hands on the Chrissy nosh.

Thorne’s version of Dickens’ story extracts crucial moments, takes licence with some dialogue, and omits some characters and scenes because, let’s face it, Dickens’ book would take many hours to perform in full.

The centre of this morality tale is Ebenezer Scrooge, played by Australian actor, Erik Thomson (known for his role in TV series, Packed to the Rafters) who manages to take Scrooge from crotchety to childlike joy by the end of the show.

Scrooge is a miserly old moneylender who thinks Christmas is ‘humbug’ (he says the word only once in this show) and who underpays and makes unreasonable demands on his dutiful, hard-working office clerk, Bob Cratchit (Tim Wright) who lives in poverty with his wife and many children, including Tiny Tim (played adorably by Mira Feldman on opening night). Scrooge reviles the carol singers at his door and dismisses his genial nephew, Fred (Kaya Byrne). He suspects everyone wants to steal his money.

Thomson is irritable and curmudgeonly as Scrooge when we see him in his money lender’s domain, surrounded by his multitude of cash boxes that he stashes in his secret hiding places. After meeting his Christmases Past, Present and Future, and learning a little of life and humanity and, dare we say, love, he shifts to a surprisingly cheery disposition and seems suprised at his own levity. This extreme change triggers the ensuing, truly joyous Christmas celebration and feast the Cratchits’ home.

There will inevitably be comparisons with the previous two Scrooges from 2022 and 2023: Owen Teale’s extraordinary Scrooge (2023) began as ferocious and misanthropic, then shifted 180° to vulnerable, charitable and astonished at his own change. David Wenham (2022) played Scrooge differently, starting almost folded in upon himself like a creeping spider, then slowly unfolding as he looked outward to view with love, the world and the people surrounding him.

The supporting cast is outstanding, with Alison Whyte as the wry, pert, Scottish-accented Christmas Past, and Samantha Morley as the critical, chivvying Christmas Present. The entire cast takes the role of Christmas Future – a group of black-clad, veiled ghostly figures – while Scrooge’s late sister, Little Fann (Aisha Aidara) escorts Scrooge to view his own, desperately lonely funeral at which he learns his lesson of love and kinship.

Anthony Cogin is compelling as the ghostly Jacob Marley, whose singing skill surprises Scrooge, Grant Piro’s Fezziwig is playful and naïve, while Sarah Morrison is warm and composed as Belle, Scrooge’s early love.

We marvel like children at Rob Howell’s gloriously atmospheric set design of tumbled lanterns and drop lights, falling snow, Scrooge’s money boxes and secret compartments in the stage floor, and Hugh Vanstone‘s evocative, often spooky, sometimes festive lighting. The music, composed by Christopher Nightingale, is an imaginative collision of Christmas carols, a capella harmonies, inspired bell ringing and haunting soundscape, played by a live band perched in a balcony box and musicians who are on stage.

A Christmas Carol, with its dancing, singing, snacks, tears and laughter, is a delicious Christmas tonic that reminds us of those who struggle to make ends meet. In London and here, money is collected and donated by the show to charities for the poor.

By: Kate Herbert.

2024 A Christmas Carol_Erik Thomson, Alison Whyte_c EugeneHyland

CAST

Ebenezer Scrooge – Erik Thomson

Felix Str -Young Ebenezer (also cello)

Tim Wright - Bob Cratchit

Anthony Cogin - Father / Marley

Kaya Byrne - Fred

Stephanie Lambourn - Mrs Cratchit (Mandolin)

Alison Whyte - Ghost of Christmas Past

Samantha Morley - Ghost of Christmas Present

Aisha Aidara - Little Fan

Sarah Morrison - Belle

Grant Piro - Fezziwig

Cameron Taylor - Nicholas

Benjamin Colley -George (Accordion/tin whistle)

Kaori Maeda-Judge – Jess

Tiny Tim - On opening night Tiny Tim played by Mira Friedman, and other nights, by Wynton Inman, Noah Sherburn, Libby Sega.

2024 A Christmas Carol_Samantha Morley, Erik Thomson_c EugeneHyland

CREATIVE TEAM

Jack Thorne - Adaptation

Matthew Warchus - Director

Rob Howell - Set & Costume

Christopher Nightingale - Composer & Arranger

Peter Rutherford - Australian Musical Director

Hugh Vanstone - Lighting

Simon Baker - Sound

Lizzi Gee – Movement

Simon Baker – Sound

Campbell Young Assoc- Hair, wigs, make-up

BAND
Natasha Fearnside – Reed

Lisa Reynolds – Violin

Lauren Jennings – Cello

mmm

RE_POST of 2023 REVIEW of A Christmas Carol***** (5) NB 2023

THEATRE (2023 production

A version by Jack Thorne, conceived by Matthew Warchus from Charles Dickens novel

An Old Vic production

At Comedy Theatre Melbourne until 7 Jan 2023

Reviewer: Kate Herbert

Stars: ***** (5)

I reviewed the 2024 production on Arts Weekly on Sat 7 Dec 2024. See next post.

I'll post a 2024 review of Erik Thompson as Scrooge soon. KH


A CHRISTMAS CAROL 2023_c Jeff Busby

The pre-show musical entertainment includes actors dispensing mince pies and mandarins to audience members who wave furiously at actors to get their hands on the Chrissy nosh.

The centre of this morality tale is Ebenezer Scrooge, played by virtuoso UK actor, Owen Teale, who manages to take Scrooge from ferocious to vulnerable by the end of the show. Scrooge is a miserly old moneylender who thinks Christmas is ‘humbug’ (He says the word only once in this show.) and who underpays and makes unreasonable demands on his dutiful, hard-working office clerk, Bob Cratchit (Bernard Curry) who lives in poverty with his wife and many children including Tiny Tim (played adorably by Mira Feldman on opening night). Scrooge reviles the carol singers at his door and dismisses his genial nephew, Fred (Andrew Coshan). He suspects everyone wants to steal his money.

Teale’s performance is rich, nuanced and passionate but feels effortless and natural, as if he isn’t acting at all, while his warm, honey-toned voice soothes and charms, even when Scrooge is being mightily mean. Teale’s transformation from this stone-hearted old grump into joyful, bouncing, childlike benefactor is swift but credible, and his 180-degree change triggers the truly joyous Christmas celebration and feast that follows at the Cratchit’s home.

The supporting cast is outstanding with Debra Lawrance as the wry, pert, elderly Christmas Past, and Samantha Morley as the critical, chivvying Christmas Present. The entire cast takes the role of Christmas Future – a group of black-clad veiled ghostly figures – while Scrooge’s late sister, Little Fann (Aisha Aidara) takes Scrooge to view his own, desperately lonely funeral at which he learns his lesson of love and kinship.

Anthony Harkin is compelling as Jacob Marley and his warm, velvety baritone is welcome in the final song, Grant Piro’s Fezziwig is playful and naïve, while Sarah Morrison is warm and composed as Belle, Scrooge’s past love.

We marvel like children at Rob Howell’s gloriously atmospheric set design of tumbled lanterns and drop lights, falling snow, Scrooge’s money boxes and secret compartments in the stage floor, and Hugh Vanstone‘a evocative, often spooky, sometimes festive lighting. The music, composed by Christopher Nightingale, is an imaginative collision of Christmas carols, a capella harmonies, inspired bell ringing and haunting soundscape, played by a live band perched in a balcony box and musicians who are on stage.

by Kate Herbert

Owen Teale & cast CHRISTMAS CAROL 2023_c Jeff Busby

CAST

Ebenezer Scrooge - Owen Teale

Cameron Bajraktarevic-Hayward -Young Ebenezer (also cello/double bass)

Bernard Curry - Bob Cratchit

Anthony Harkin - Father / Marley

Andrew Coshan - Fred