THE THEATER MIRROR, New England's LIVE Theater Guide
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Attleboro Community Theatre's holiday show is Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol". Director Valerie Coogan makes her version of this classic tale a show the entire family can enjoy using 53 cast members of varying ages. She uses a homeless person to narrate the story. The narrator finds various items in a garbage pile including Dickens' novel which she proceeds to read to the audience. The characters of Ebenezer and company come to life playing various scenes throughout the theatre. Valerie infuses the show with humor as well as giving it a heart and soul to make even a real life Scrooge laugh and cry at the right time. The success of this version is due to her casting of an excellent Scrooge who pulls the best out of his supporting cast members. She is aided by musical director, Sylvia Witschi with her selection of Christmas carols at the start and end of the show with a cast who can really sing. All these elements combine together to bring everyone into the holiday spirit beautifully, creating a wonderful version of this well known tale.
Valerie keeps the action flowing constantly from one scene to the next. Paul Warner is perfect as Scrooge. He handles the transformation from mean, miser to loveable benefactor wonderfully. Paul's strong acting shines through in this role. Ed Hyman brings the audience to tears as Bob Cratchitt in the graveyard scene when he visits Tiny Tim while Paula Frazer as his wife, Emily is a hoot in the opening scene, breaking into Scrooge's safe to steal a piece of coal to give Scrooge as a gift for being a miserable boss. Alan Stavris and Kristen Barrows play Scrooge's nephew and his wife. They get to show off their strong singing voices in the closing songs. Kristen's strong soprano voice sells the beautiful closing number "God Bless Us Everyone" which tugs at your heartstrings with its poignancy. Jamie Delaurier also sings this number beautifully backed up by the whole cast. Jenniffer Vaughan is a hoot as Scrooge's housekeeper, Mrs. Turk who cooks and cleans for him. (She stepped in at the last moment due to illness and did an excellent job.) Tim Coogan is dynamite as Marley with his rasping voice and huge chains while 12 year old Allison Brosseau is wonderful as Christmas Past with her authoritative voice and line delivery. Dennis Magee is a strong and powerful Christmas Present while Stephen Trank is a scary, Christmas Future. Tiny Tim is played by Paul Warner's real life daughter, Elizabeth while Isabel Flynn and McKensie Leek play Belinda and Martha Cratchitt. Nicholas Samuel is very funny as the Turkey Boy who carries a bird as big as he is. The four urchins played by Madeline Griffith, Tyler Champagne, Caylynn Paquette and Jessica Marcure also add levity to the show with their funny one liners. Kudos to everyone else in this enormous cast who made this into a very successful and enjoyable holiday show.