A Christmas Carol the Pantomime

This seasonal Charles Dickens story with its dark subject matter is not easy to imbue with pantomime elements but Amanda Craib in her script and direction managed to do so admirably. Ian Glover was very convincing as the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge as we followed him through his Christmas Eve ghostly visitations and eventual conversion to philanthropist. Tiarnan Clarke as his faithful clerk Bob Cratchit and Kirsty Anderson as his long-suffering wife Emily both played strongly. Ben Mortimer as Dame Belle, Scrooge’s long lost love, made the most of the comic elements of the part and built up a good rapport with the audience. In this he was aided by three new characters Em, Bezz and Elle, Scrooge’s junior clerks, played by Grace Nicoll, Aidan Hyndman and Katy Rodway-Swanson. Scrooge’s ghostly visitors were well portrayed by Lindsey Knight (Jacob Marley), Adrienne Lean (Christmas Past), Naomi Bunyan (Christmas Present) and Kenny Craib (Christmas Yet to Come). Andrew Sutherland made an elegant Fred Scrooge and was supported well by Lee Whitley as his wife Sarah. Strong support was given by Darren McKinnon (Mr Fezziwig), Kim McIntyre (Mrs Fezziwig) and Harry Bunyan, Kieran McPhee, Iona Jack, Corvin Kelly, Emma Russell and Abbie Sims (the Cratchit Children). The large chorus of villagers and dancers sang and moved well. Good use was made of the multi-level set which allowed for free-flowing changes of scene. Well done everyone.

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