A Christmas Carol Review – Lively Version Of Holiday Classic

Scrooges Redemption - photo by Ken Jacques
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By Kathy Carpenter

Scrooge listening to a plea and turning them away – Photo by Ken Jacques

Welk Theatre Ressort presents the holiday classic, “A Christmas Carol. A musical by the “Oscar – winning composer Alan Menken, of “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Little Mermaid.” This lively rendition of the heart-warming Dickens tale, directed by Larry Raben, has the Victorian charm associated with the story. The sinister ghosts and wonderful costumes of the era. Scrooge himself not quite so despicable, after all this is a musical, by design more light-hearted. Well acted, entertaining and a great addition for your Christmas season.

Ruby Spencer as Tiny Tim and Allen Everman as Cratchit – photo by Ken Jacques

 

It’s with a bit of a saddened heart I write this review. After, 37 years, The Welk Theatre will go dark for most of 2018. after this show closes December 31. Producer and theatre manager for the past nine years, doing a wonderful job trying to breach the older theatre goers and the younger generation, Joshua Carr, will not return. The 309 seat theatre is remodeling.The lobby has served as a tribute and museum to the late great Lawrence Welk, and will no longer be what it is now. If you have always wanted to visit you best plan to head to the theatre soon. The Theatre has plans to reopen on the fall of 2018 and continue with it’s musical productions. I will miss both them and Carr. And yes I do believe Carr’s touch was missed on this show.

Scrooge and Marley – photo by Ken Jacques

Everyone knows the story of Scrooge. The tight-listed curmudgeon with no heart, whom after being visited by four ghosts, his partner Marley, and Christmas, past, present, and future, sees the light to become a new man, loving and giving. A theme most everyone can identify this time of year.

Something I really enjoyed, at the beginning of the show the cast stood in a line stretched across the front of the stage in turn each related a fact pertaining to the history of A Christmas Carol. I don’t know about you but I love trivia.

Hanz Enyeart as Marley – photo by Ken Jacques

Rudy Martinez starred as Scrooge, bringing to life the man everyone love to hate. The ghosts however sort of stole the show. Winston Peacock played Marley, Scrooge’s dead partner. Doing an awesome over the top menacing spirit. Scaring the dickens out of Scrooge and the audience. Leigh Scarritt is a star both professionally and in her personal achievements to help other to become stars. She played the role of Christmas Present, shining like the star on the top of the Christmas tree. So powerful. with the perfect beautiful red and green Victorian costume. The outfit gorgeous. Jo Dumas as Christmas Past also did a fabulous job. The other cast members to shine both the young girls. Ruby Spencer as Tiny Tim and Madison O Donovan. Both had the voices of angels. Spencer stealing our hearts as Tiny Tim and O Donovan playing multiple roles and even keeping up with the adults in the tap dance number.

Rudy Martinez as Scrooge and JD Dumas Christmas Past – photo by Ken Jacques

Of course, the entire cast made the show, where would we be without the rest of the characters. Come spend part of your Christmas season enjoying a classic.

Leigh Scarritt as Christmas Present – center – photo by Ken Jacques
A Christmas Carol
 
Nov. 17 – Dec. 31, 2017
Welk Resort Theatre
8860 Lawrence Welk drive
Escondido, CA 92026
1.888.802.show

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