Theatre Memphis tweaks, but doesn't overhaul 'Christmas Carol' production

Photo by Photo by Skip Hooper

James Dale Green (center) as Ebenezer Scrooge approaches Bob Cratchit (left) played by Mark W. Reid, as Scrooge’s nephew, Fred (right), played by Matt Barber, offers assistance. "A Christmas Carol" runs Friday through Dec. 23 at Theatre Memphis.

“A Christmas Carol” is making its 32nd consecutive appearance on the Theatre Memphis Main Stage.

The tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, his ghostly tour guides and the triumph of Dickensian redemption have been a mixed bag at Theatre Memphis, sometimes wheezing, sometimes inspired.

Photo by Photo by Skip Hooper

James Dale Green (center) as Ebenezer Scrooge approaches Bob Cratchit (left) played by Mark W. Reid, as Scrooge’s nephew, Fred (right), played by Matt Barber, offers assistance. "A Christmas Carol" runs Friday through Dec. 23 at Theatre Memphis.

Last year’s production helmed by Jason Spitzer was in the inspired category. It broke a string of tired presentations and the director is back again this year, making a few tweaks but always keeping in mind that the audience must be entertained.

He says he’s working to balance the two acts a little better and has incorporated some additional lively dance moments. Theatre Memphis' new costume designer Guy Bailey has come up with some new looks for the show. But mostly, he says, he’s not fixing what isn’t broke.

Spitzer reflected on his own philosophy of presenting the holiday classic. One of the best things he did in last year’s production was to trim the fat.

The director is a self-described Dickens fanatic but sees no point in what he calls “the slavish devotion to putting all of Charles Dickens’ dialog in the play.”

Earlier versions, he thought, were “a little too dense for audiences to really appreciate the drama or the comedy. We wanted to pare it down last year so that it was more enjoyable and less tedious.”

Spitzer also cast James Dale Green as Marley’s Ghost last year, a standout, chain-thrashing performance. This year, Green takes on the prize role of Scrooge, and the director has a few thoughts about how the hurler of Humbug ought to be portrayed.

“One of the things I hear from actors is how much they appreciate the version with Patrick Stewart that goes for a natural performance of Scrooge,” Spitzer says. “But Dickens was a caricaturist, so his portraits of people were not drawn realistically and I don’t think Scrooge should be played that way.”

Audiences, he says, like a sneering villain. A realistic guy’s redemption is, dramatically, unbelievable. “But if you ramp it up and make the whole thing more comic and more like what modern audiences are used to,” he says, “then the transformation becomes more believable.”

“A Christmas Carol”

The main stage at Theatre Memphis, 630 Perkins Ext. Through Dec. 23, 7 p.m. daily, 2 p.m. Sunday matinees. Dates vary, so call for information. Tickets: $28, $15 for students, $10 for children under 12. Call 682-8323 or go to theatrememphis.org.

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