A Christmas Carol in Hollywood first Presbyterian Church
Reviewed by Amalisha HuEck
What can be better to get into the Christmas Spirit but to see a famous tale of ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens. This novella was first published on December 19,1843 in London, and it’s been sold out by Christmas Eve. Since then, it has never been out of print.
As a production, it’s the most produced production that’s ever been done as the movie and as the play. Numerous great actors played the role of Ebenezer Lennox Scroggie, who was supposedly a merchant from Edinburgh, England. Cold-hearted miser who despises Christmas is visited by four ghosts and does not have a choice, but to experience an entire lifetime squeezed into one single night. The story unfolds in a special way, where Scrooge confronts all ‘good’ and ‘bad’ moments of his life, and the memories make him transform and find redemption.
A brief history of A Christmas Carol at First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, ‘In the late 1946’s a very talented Sunday School Class decided to put up their own version of A Christmas Carol. They chose to do this onstage in this elegant English Gothic Cathedral. Although we have a new adaptation, we continue the tradition that they began all those years ago.’ This year they are celebrating their 79th season. Congrats!
The imaginative, strategic, and competent director Jesse Corti, an American actor and theater director known for playing Courfeyrac in the original Broadway show Les Misérables and for voicing LeFou in Beauty and the Beast, for the fifth season led the ensemble to another successful, fully magical production. Unabashedly faithful to the novel, this production is adapted and choreographed by Julietta Corti, and performed at the beautiful sanctuary of the FPCH, which celebrated its 100th Centennial last year. This magnificent production is surely MUST SEE.
The power of the story is enhanced by great actors, specifically the main character of Ebenezer Scrooge, so perfectly portrayed by Tim Farmer, who as a successful Broadways actor with many Broadway shows, commercials and TV shows under his belt, is utterly unforgettable. Once you see him being Mr Scrooge, you cannot unsee it. I will never forget many unforgettable moments of expressing fear, guilt, regret and hope when facing the four ghosts: the ghost of Jacob Marley – his former business partner; the ghost of Christmas past, the ghost of Christmas present, and the ghost of Christmas yet to come. Together with powerful costume designs, hair and makeup and fantastic sound design and quality, the ghosts come to life with full force – scarry and powerful. Their light, which is too bright for the dark Scrooge to handle at the beginning, becomes reflective of it by the end. By watching his maneuvers motionless on the bed, when the death with his impressive hands maneuvers around him and finally grants him another chance to transform into a loving, compassionate, and generous man does the job. Overjoyed by the good fortune, he accepts the gift of extended life and by offering redemption to others, generously shares his coins with the people in need. Farmer’s happiness demonstrated by dancing, jumping for joy and laughing is in my memory forever. He is strikingly glorious!
By joining his nephew’s invitation to Christmas dinner and gaining the blessings of his belonging to a loving family, the story reminds us that Christmas is not only one day, but we should celebrate it throughout the year by being kind, generous and loving. By being grateful for our families and loving people around us, we open ourselves for more Blessings to come into our lives.
There is a lot of sensitivity expressed by actors. Besides all the great voices Reverent Maurice McGraw stands out with his powerful singing instrument. The power of this play is in acting, singing and the presentation of it. It’s fun for the kids watching the tale, although there are many scary moments, but this production is even more fun for kids portraying the characters. Sven Frisch, Nicholas Bunker, Georgina Ang, and Judah Tarter are brilliant. They are all carolers and they all play multiple roles, as the whole town people do.
The music, the lighting, and the studio level film recording of the production are impressive. After the performance there is another venue, where people from the show enjoy hot cider, cookies, coffee or tea, and learn the steps to an original Allemande and Cotilion dance, arranged in a square format for couples to dance a sequence of choreographed figures.
Produced by George LePorte, the production of A Christmas Carol can be experienced at the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood at 1760 N. Gower Street, from November 30 – December 20. The free parking is across the street in the church car park.
To purchase tickets, visit www.achristmascarolhollywood.com or call 323-928-7452.
For a more in-depth history of A Christmas Carol at FPCH, please visit our website www.fpch.org