Cygnet Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Carol” Goes Back to the Theatre Roots

It is my second first with Cygnet this year, as I had never seen a Rocky Horror production or their production of A Christmas Carol. With an original score by Billy Thompson and Patrick Marion in the music direction, this piece has an adaptation and lyrics by Cygnet co-founder Sean Murray, who also directs and stars as Ebenezer Scrooge. The plot, rooted in Charles Dickens’s novella about a greedy and stingy rich man who disenchants everyone around him. On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by his deceased partner, Jacob Marley, with a warning. The spirits of Christmas past, present, and future will follow, changing Scrooge’s perspective and attitude towards life.

Cygnet goes back to the performance roots by using elements that appeal to the imagination, such as whistles, bells, and puppets. Matt Lescault Wood’s sound design pops through these elements, making the production that much more enjoyable. David McBean, Patrick McBride, Eileen Bowman, Megan Carmitchel, Jasmine January, and Allen Lucky Weaver round out the cast, playing multiple roles in the two-act musical piece. Jeanne Reith’s costume design is dressy, late 1800’s fashionable. The ghost of Jacob Marley wears a light gray suit with off-white lace and chains all around; some are wrapped around David McBean, who plays Marley, and some are attached to a control bar handled by other actors. That wardrobe choice was magical, as was McBean’s performance of the trapped soul in limbo. The same impression goes for the ghost of Christmas present, also played by McBean with an emotional rendition of “How the Ghost Exulted.” Wearing a long green, velour Santa-like robe with a red wig, courtesy of Peter Herman, and a Christmas flower crown. Patrick McBride is sweet and enchanting as Bob Cratchit, with great agility moving across the stage. Megan Carmitchel and Jasmine January are part of the spirit of Christmas Past, along with a white, ethereal puppet that seems to be floating around. Both actresses talk in unison, which is sometimes confusing as not all the words come out clearly, but the beautiful harmonies sung, especially in “Leaving the Past,” make up for it. Carmitchel shows her comedic flare as a very pregnant lady, and Jasmine January has a brief but fantastic scene as the young Belinda Cratchit with the most realistic little girl cry on point-funny-real.

Eileen Bowman displayed beautiful vocals in “A Christmas Jig,” was hilarious as the annoyed and later surprised Mrs. Dilbur, and delivered a fun performance as Mrs. Cratchet in a carving sequence finely complemented by Matt Lescault Wood’s sound and Katie Banville’s choreography. Allen Lucky Weaver is tender and funny as Scrooge’s nephew Fred, also a great narrator, which was enjoyable and fun. Sean Murray is a stage master. He interacts with the audience in a TED Talk manner while in character, and it is mind-boggling to see, accompanied by Colby Freel’s lighting design with a pointer for Scrooge mostly, and beautiful effects for all the spirits that went from darks to bright whites and dims.