Every year for the past 29, Civic Theatre of Allentown puts on 'A Christmas Carol', and the holiday tradition is always a treat to behold. The hard work that the actors and crew put in for the months leading up to the show culminates in a spectacle that everyone should see at least once.
From before the start of the show to the end of it, the cast sets the mood and makes the audience excited for the show. When people are sitting, various young cast members sell raffle tickets while Christmas music plays.
Choir members open the show by singing a variety of Christmas songs. By doing so, they make the audience feel like they are actually watching a Christmas “Carol”.
Owen Wilburn as the Storyteller is very enthusiastic. He gets everyone excited to hear more.
Max Wetherhold as Fred and Fan’s Husband is extremely strong, and watching him act, it would be easy to forget he’s a 13-year-old boy.
Mark Domyan is humble as Bob Cratchit. He makes the audience feel for him.
Susan Schlegel is extremely entertaining as Mrs. Colby, Scrooge’s maid. Of course, one would have to have a sense of humor to work for such a miser and skinflint! Schlegel later returns as Mrs. Fezziwig, and in that role she is very prim and proper, as well as a proud mother.
George Kovarie is scary and yet remorseful as Jacob Marley. He also plays the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (very eerie in that role, too), and while I’m not sure this was intentional on the director William Sanders’s part, it is very noteworthy that both these characters are the ones who warn Scrooge what will happen if he doesn’t change his ways.
JoAnn Wilchek Basist is ethereal and commanding as the Ghost of Christmas Past.
Seeing the young Scrooges, ages 6 and 13, left behind at the schoolyard while the other school chums go home for Christmas, is heartbreaking, and it is wonderful when Fan, Scrooge’s sister, comes to take him home- a very happy time.
Nate Rock and Luka Pettine are both moving as the two youngest Scrooges, and Lila Schneider is adorably enthusiastic as Young Fan.
Rob Wallace is jolly as Mr. Fezziwig, as well as as Old Joe. As Fezziwig, he makes everyone excited for his party.
One of the most entertaining lines is his, “Tonight we’ll do it. We’ll make merry and dance the night away!” Wallace and Schlegel are married in real life, and it is clear to see that the love they have for each other translates to the stage.
Mackenzie Easler as little Becky Fezziwig steals the scene as she enthusiastically greets the party guests.
For every entertaining moment in this play, of course there are also heartbreaking moments.
For example, when the beloved Fan is dying and asks Ebenezer to take care of Fred.
Also, the scene where Belle breaks up with Ebenezer because she notes that he now cares more for money than for her. Chelsi Fread, as Dying Fan, Anthony Kompa, as Scrooge at 21, and Annabelle Silkworth, as Belle, play these scenes in heartwarming manners.
Silkworth doubles as Nancy, Fred’s wife, and her contrast between these two characters is amazing- between the, at first, prim and proper, and then, sad Belle, and the happy go lucky, cheerful Nancy. She has a lot of talent, especially for a high school student.
Brian Rock is extremely entertaining as the Ghost of Christmas Present. His presence (no pun intended!) serves to remind Scrooge of his own words and how damaging they are. He also shows Scrooge what he is missing by being such a miser about Christmas.
Kiernan Ward and Jordan Silver as First and Second London Boys have a very entertaining scene when they fight, and then make up, but still really fight. It’s quite amusing!
Everyone in the Cratchit Family is standout. Both their present scenes, which the play depicts them as being poor but happy, and their future scene, which the play depicts them as being sad about Tiny Tim, are played remarkably.
Matthew Hauck and Adysen Billowitch, as Ignorance and Want, grip the audience with their horror.
The main character is of course Ebenezer Scrooge, and Barry Glassman has portrayed this role nine times. One would think having the same actor play the same role so many times would get old, but in the case of Glassman, not at all. Quite the contrary, it is not tiring to see Glassman portray Scrooge, because he always brings something new to the role.
Yes, his Scrooge is a despicable character at first, but he also has a great sense of humor, one that can make people cheer for him to change his ways. They could think, “Gee, if this guy weren’t such a stingy lout, it would be really fun to hang out with him!”
The show always ends with the cast singing “Angels We Have Heard On High” while holding candles. This is another way that Sanders makes this production memorable.
In the words of Christmas Present, “There is never enough time to do or say all that we would wish.The trick is to do as much as you can in the time that you can”, and in the words of Tiny Tim, “God bless us, Everyone!”
"A Christmas Carol" runs through December 15 at Civic Theatre, 527 N. 19th Street, Allentown, PA.
For information, please call 610-432-8943 or visit www.civictheatre.com