That “Bah! Humbug!”-slinging miser is back this December at the Bangor Opera House in a wonderful and traditional production of “A Christmas Carol” that features opulent costumes, original music, a London set complete with a clock tower and a very familiar face as Scrooge.
Penobscot Theater Company revived the show last year for its 50th season after theatergoers listed it as the top non-musical they wanted brought back after 10 seasons of December musicals. In an audience survey, respondents also said they wanted Kenneth Stack back as Scrooge. Prior to 2023, he’d last performed the show with PTC in 2020 for an online version during the pandemic. This year marks his 27th time portraying Charles Dickens’ legendary curmudgeon, who first appeared in 1843, and is transformed by three Christmas spirits.
Director Jonathan Berry chose the same relatively new script by Lavina Jadhwani of Chicago that was produced last season but the company’s artistic director takes a more traditional approach in his telling of the familiar story with period sets and costumes. Last year’s production, spearheaded by an out-of-town director, was a bit disjointed.
Larrance Fingerhut, who co-wrote the 2023 production of “Trapped! The Musical: A Lobster Tale,” composed a score for this year’s “A Christmas Carol” for keyboard, cello and violin that includes some traditional Christmas carols sung by the cast. On opening night, Loralee Brown and Lynn Brubaker joined Fingerhut, who plays the keyboard, on cello and violin respectively.
Because the actors wear body mics, the soulful and joyous soundtrack never overpowers their voices. The music beautifully follows Scrooge’s roller coaster of emotions during the play. The score adds color and dimension to the story, familiar to all but the youngest theatergoers, and gives the story some freshness.
Stack, as always, finds new ways to make Scrooge’s transformation heartfelt and human. The music really underscores the character’s emotional journey and Stack rides the notes like a master surfer.
This year’s ensemble includes eight adults and four children, most of whom play multiple roles. Eight members of the company’s youth ensemble are in the show. Two groups of four actors — named the Pickwicks and the Copperfields, nods to characters in Dickens’ other works — rotate performances portraying Tiny Tim, the young Scrooge, and Bob Cratchit’s daughters, Martha and Belinda.
The Copperfields — Phoebe Derdowski, Kira Hendrickson, Maia Johnson and Derrick Johnson — performed opening night. Miles Green-Hamann, Monika Vijay, Hayden Crane and Jackson Woodworth make up the Pickwicks.
Adult standouts in the cast include PTC’s Executive Director Jen Shepard as the Ghost of Christmas Past, George Loring as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Laura Hodos as Marley’s Ghost and Joshua Flanagan as Bob Cratchit. All shine in multiple roles along with ensemble members Bri Houtman, Melia Lisette and Andrew Barrett.
The real stars of this production are the set by Dan Bilodeau, the costumes by Kevin Jacob Koski and the lighting design by Isaac Anderson. The two-level set, complete with rooftops and clock tower, immediately puts theatergoers in Dickens’ mid-19th century London.
Koski’s costumes range from the plush attire worn by the ghosts to the modest outfits worn by the humble Crachit family. They too put the audience firmly in England’s Industrial Revolution. Anderson’s moody lighting plot expertly illuminates the characters while allowing shadows of Christmases past, present and future to gently shimmer.
Berry’s vision for this production beautifully and joyously captures the spirit of Dickens’ classic holiday tale. It is a delicious and satisfying holiday treat for every family member.
Penobscot Theatre Company’s production of “A Christmas Carol” will be performed through Dec. 22 at the Bangor Opera House, 131 Main St. For more information, call 207-942-3333 or visit penobscottheatre.org.