Do you hear that sound?
Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre is echoing with the heartwarming tunes of the Tony Award-winning production of Charles Dickens’ timeless classic ‘A Christmas Carol’.
The five time Tony Award winning show will be bringing Melburnians a touch of old-world English festive cheer, with carols you know and love, and a clever interpretation of the classic Christmas tale.
As my plus one and I entered the theatre, we were greeted by the cast in old-English attire, handing out Christmas treats like fruit tarts and mandarins to munch into.
The live band was already on stage and performing a few jigs for the cast of dancers to prance around to. The audience inclusion in this show will have your children (and young at heart adults) feeling very festive.
Conceived and directed by the director behind ‘Matilda the Musical‘, Matthew Warchus, and adapted for the stage by Jack Thorne of ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child‘ fame, the production is truly an immersive experience filled with music, merriment, and the spirit of the season.
Leading the excellent cast is legendary stage and screen actor Owen Teale, who brings death and humanity to the villainous Ebenezer Scrooge.
You undoubtably know the story, though this fresh interpretation and staging brings a whole new energy to the story as Scrooge is shown by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future the building blocks of his current life, and grim consequences if he does not change his ways.
We particularly liked the clever stage design which changed and evolved magically before our eyes, and some tricky theatre magic which saw lamps magically light, and even an indoor snow storm.
Using the two-levels of the theatre to excellent effect there was a scene where 100s of prop vegetables, fruits, breads and more were passed through the audience, or catapulted from up on high. Bringing some of the action away from the stage was an excellent decision as we could see the rest of the audience light up with joy as they helped the actors pass plates of food to the stage and laughed with their neighbours.
Another wonderfully festive moment was the tuned bell ringing during and after the show that really brought home the feeling of Christmas, and was a excellent way round out the performance.
Owen Teale spoke after the show to let the audience know that in the spirit of the original story, collections would be taken to support the extraordinary work of Fare Share, a charity that provides Aussies in need with essentials throughout the year. So dig deep if you can as you exit and bring a little Christmas cheer to those less fortunate.
Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this unforgettable festival experience before the curtains fall on January 7th.
– Tomas
A Christmas Carol is playing at The Comedy Theatre Melbourne until the 7th January, 2024. Book tickets here.
This venue is accessible.
