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A Christmas Carol--Seeing A Warm Christmas Classic in LBPH's 85th Miracle Anniversary Yr, Is A True Holiday Treat!

Patch Entertainment Event Theatre Review



A Christmas Carol--Seeing A Warm
Christmas Classic in LBPH's 85th Miracle Anniversary Yr, Is A True Holiday
Treat!



Reviewed By: Joseph Sirota





It couldn’t really be a
complete Christmas season without revisiting Charles Dickens' masterful fable
of the joyfulness & goodwill of Christmas--A Christmas Carol. He Cleverly/Imaginatively creates
unforgettable, ghostly allegory fitting Victorian England's mean old, harsh scorn
to the poor masses, while he paints the dominant rich & powerful as
uncaring to help. Dickens knew firsthand the harsh imprisonment/embarrassment meted
out by the Poor–Laws ..which addressed the poor’s needs”
heartlessly. His vivid Philosophical heart-touching tale deems without a spirit
of goodness, even the richest man is hollow & alone. Dickens' triumphs over
the humbug Ebenezer
Scrooge
-- a pompous symbolic,
selfish money-centered man who's rich, but friendless, loveless & joyless.
Literature finds Scrooge's miraculous uplifting “turnabout” from callous,
isolated miser to generous openhearted benefactor of all fellow men. Who ever
finds Warmth & Joy in a single night?

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Those Ghosts are darn better
"curers" than any modern "Shrink" or "Guru". Dickens
brilliantly thought of them in writing the novella while he himself was near
impoverishment in autumn 1843. To make his story
affordable when published a week before Christmas 1843, he risked paying for all
production costs himself; and he priced it at a small five shillings. Though
it's been sold a "gazillion" times, his expenses plus printer "piracy",
A Christmas Carol was a smash, not
a huge money-maker (great writer, but week Businessman)...ironically a real
Scrooge mind might have made Dickens rolling in dough!). Fortunately, Dickens
wrote many other fine classics... none out sold this "Carol" gem.



I
won't retell you details of the story as you've likely heard a 100 or more
versions. And if by wonder, you didn't read, see or hear A Christmas Carol you're
in for a brilliant work of writing and a theatrical treasure! But, I will
emphasize, that though there have been Big Money Versions with tons of musicals,
super backgrounds and optical tricks I insure you that this 85th LBPH Anniversary
production is terrific in sending us the key philosophical messages, in the
close intimate horse-shoe theater/stage. And, more importantly the entire show
was clearly, really "from the heart" -- & more well-styled for
families of all ages, including youngsters... even though dem ghosts &
FUTURE Giant Ghost (a Wow!)
all seemed a Hoot to audiences of every
age. Bravo for the Director Sharyn Case - great creative use of the limited
expenses and guiding the very devoted cast (I've liked Sharyn's prior direction
and this even more-so. Hats off to Stage Manager Kathleen Zaug for superb work
on a very demanding stage, big cast, different Century and society. As always,
the cast was be amazingly costumed despite budget, by Donna Fritsche--what a
splendid job on this one A++.  Special
Kudos to Set Design by Andrew Vonderschmitt -- I was hit by his super sets for
years, and here, het shows he can still handle the very deepest challenges--I
always root for Andrew, But I Never-Ever say Break-a-Leg to a fine guy! Support Team: Lights--Matthew Mikulka,
Sound-Sean Gray, KEY Assistants: Brian Canup and Victoria Martinez. A very
worthy Production!!!

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Impressive, (One-&-All Cast)
--As Tiny Tim Would Say: G-d Bless Them, Every-One
:



SCROOGE:
Rick Kopps--Although Dickens might Yell! I find Kopps' approach of Poking Fun at the Holiday Lovers instead of past actors Hate-Them-Style made
this local holiday version warmer/less angry(& better for family kidlets). BOB
CRATCHIT: Stephen Saatjian-As forgiving, Decent & Loving a Dad, Hubby,
Worker & MAN-touches our souls.



FRED
HALLOWELL: Julian Fernandez-He shines like the goodness of his deceased mother,
Scrooge's beloved sister.



JACOB
MARLEY: Doug Seagraves-an excellent past partner of Scrooge- strongly &
poignantly trying to save him.



GHOST
OF CHRISTMAS PAST: Juliana Perez is another dear person/ghost trying to
understand & help Scrooge live.



GHOST
OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT: Dean Figone- A near powerful giant of a ghost, warning,
but teaching Scrooge.



GHOST
OF CHRISTMAS FUTURE: A terrific 13 Foot-High, hooded & skeleton-handed Puppet
(bravo 2man-Ghosts)



The Many Delightful and
hard-working Supporting Players -- who make the show come to busy London 1800's Life!!!
       



PLAYER
#1; Jeeves, Fezziwig, Broker #1 and Old Joe – Gordon Marhoefer



PLAYER
#2; Howell, Young Scrooge, Broker #2, Mr. Tackleton the Undertaker and Thomas –
Zackary Salene



PLAYER
#3; Tiny Tim and Ebenezer as a boy – Kruiz Mauga



PLAYER
#4; Fan and Belinda Cratchit, Poverty -Hannah Smith



PLAYER
#5; Belle, Martha Cratchit, Janet Hollowell, Mrs. Dilber, and Caroline – Andrea
Paquin



PLAYER
#6; Mrs. Fezziwig, Mrs. Cratchit. Mrs. Oliver and Poulterer – Victoria Martinez



PLAYER
#7; Peter Cratchit and Boy, Hunger – Lucas Dysart





--For a moving,
uplifting production of a Golden Classic play-- A Christmas Carol: at LBPH’s MainStage 5021 E Anaheim St

Long Beach, CA 90804. 
Fri & Sat 8:00 PM, plus Sun Matinees, 2:00PM. Closes Dec 22.
Tickets: $24, but $12 for students, & some other
specials.
 Tel: (714) 708-5555 www.SouthCoastRepertory.com
or scr.org







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