Scrooge

This show gives plenty to do for all casts with a number of opportunities available to play small-ish, but important, character roles – apart from the lead that is – and here the parts were well spread.

Scrooge himself is, however, a major undertaking for any actor as he is hardly off the stage at all.  Ian Start equipped himself extremely well even though he had been struggling with a voice problem in the days leading up to the performances.  His songs aren’t easy and in them he needs to get his character across to contrast his misery with the rest of the characters who are looking forward to Christmas and by and large he did this.  I liked Ian’s performance of It’s Not My Fault and his duet You…You with Ebenezer (Stuart Raywood).  Stuart has a lovely voice and he also shone in Happiness with Scrooge and Jane Bradley who portrayed the part of Isabel confidently.

Paul Sorfleet played the parts of Jacob Marley and Ghost of Christmas Present, coming across very well in both and making them suitably different.

The Cratchit Family were also enjoyable, led by Peter Abraham (Bob) and Joanne Wilson (Mrs Cratchit).  Young Owen Dulson, just 7 years of age, was lovely as Tiny Tim, singing really well in The Beautiful Day and he maintained his limp throughout.  Helen Davison and Bob Harrison were fun as The Fezziwigs and Tom Andrews worked hard as Tom Jenkins.

At times, however, I felt that the whole show lacked pace with the opening carol sequence and numbers such as December the 25th and Thank You Very Much being a bit on the slow side, not helping the singing or the movement although the cast did as much as they could to generate excitement.  The Ministers Cat stood out as perhaps the best main number but I just wanted a bit more from the others.

The set was open stage with a few permanent pieces of furniture, maybe some of which could have been removed once finished with.

Overall therefore this was a creditable performance, appreciated by the audience, in a first time venue for the society.

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