Civic Theatre delivers plenty of holiday spirit with its 33rd annual holiday production of "A Christmas Carol" through Dec. 21 at the historic 19th Street Theater, 527 N. 19th St., Allentown.
The show begins, as always, setting the stage as families parade across the stage on their busy holiday errands and carolers sing with fervor, creating a delightfully immersive experience.
Bill Joachim returns for his third turn as Ebenezer Scrooge and this year his Scrooge has a terser, meaner vibe than his previous incarnations. Joachim’s Scrooge is seething with anger as he harasses poor Bob Crachit, and everyone else who crosses his path. However, when he transforms after the visits with the spirits, Joachim’s Scrooge becomes palpably giddy with joy.
Christopher Pizolato is downtrodden as Scrooges abused clerk Cratchit, but shows his inner light as he plays with children in the street and in his devotion to his family.
Remy Kayal’s ghost of Jacob Marley is suitably creepy as he bellows, and rattles his chains with gusto.
Moriah Faith is quietly wise as the ghost of Christmas past; while Deven Windisch gives a more serious note to his less-jolly ghost of Christmas present. Matt Croslis is appropriately ominous as the ghost of Christmas yet to come.
However, it is the expansive ensemble as various Victorian-clad actors take the stage for set pieces like Scrooge’s nephew Fred’s (an earnest Mark Ingram) holiday gathering; the Fezziwigs’ (Rob Wallace and Susan Schlegel convivial as the couple) energetic Christmas party and the Cratchits’ spare, but loving celebration, that makes “A Christmas Carol” truly memorable.
Young actors effectively portray Scrooge at various ages, as well as his beloved sister Fan and his one-time fiance Belle. Also charming are the young actors portraying the Fezziwig children and the Cratchit children, including the appealing eight-year-old Cashton Morrow who is playing Tiny Tim for his third time.
The final tableau with the entire cast on stage singing "Angels We Have Heard on High" amid candlelight and falling snow always ends the show on a perfect note.
Co-directors Williams Sanders and JoAnn Wilchek Basist keep the large cast which includes nearly 70 children, moving like clockwork.
The set by Luke Blomstrom is welcoming and creates an authentic feel, while Rae Labadie and Anissa Robinson’s period costumes effectively evoke a Victorian feel.
Tickets are $35 for adults; $30 for students, seniors and military and $13 for children age 13 and younger. The Dec. 19 performance is pay what you will.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11, 13, 19 and 20; 2 p.m. Dec. 15; and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 and 21.
For information, call 610-433-8903, or go to civictheatre.com/.