Parker Theatre, located at 3605 S State Street in Salt Lake City, presents a thrilling new telling of a comfortable familiar in their production of A Christmas Carol. Audiences were riveted and delighted by the production. It is a must see this holiday season, even if you’ve seen the story played out a hundred times, and I promise you, I have. Between performing in A Christmas Carol in various parts over the years, and having an autistic son (Jaxon) who absolutely insists we watch A Muppet Christmas Carol every year over and over again, I am VERY familiar with Charles Dickens’ timeless classic, and this was new and exciting!
I have so many wonderful things to say about this production. First of all, Parker Theater is a fantastic theatrical space. They have the best concessions in the state. At the front of the theater is a soda fountain, where you can order sundaes, homemade treats, and delicious drinks. The lobby is beautifully decorated with a beautiful 1930s art deco motif, and everyone greets you with kindness and a smile.
I brought my youngest son Eddie to the show with me. At 13 years old, he is a loud mouthed critic of everything. He was riveted. I was so enthralled with how lighting designer Tom Hohl painted a ghostly story with light, and how James Parker’s set designs, with tall red brick arches, gave us the feeling of being lost in a big cold city. Between the actors, the sets, and the lighting, I sometimes felt like I was in a Vegas Magic show. It was so much fun waiting for the next ghost, and experiencing the true wonder of this haunting story.
Despite all the technical wonder, the real joy was in experiencing the theme retold with new perspectives. In this telling, we meet Jacob Marley, played by Stephen Harmon while he is still alive. We see the beginning of their relationship, and while we hope Scrooge makes better choices, we see the reality of Marley’s choices in life and death. There’s a point, when Marley rails against the living for squandering their chances to be charitable in the same way Scrooge rails against the poor for squandering their chances to save money. I was caught off guard. It was such a touching moment.
Another touching moment for me is when Christmas Present, played by Brinton Wilkins, embraces and sweetly carries off the children Ignorance and Want, instead of banishing them. He is Present, and as he tenderly lifted them up into his arms, I felt the tugging of my heart, and the reminder that in order to banish ignorance and want from our world, we must take responsibility and care. Rather than stand against these things, we must embrace our duty. They are present with us. They are a part of us. We can change nothing unless we do it with love.
Bob Cratchitt, played by Jason Purdie, is the representative of all things good and kind. He sweetly works, and truly loves his family. I enjoyed the care I felt between the whole family. Mrs Cratchitt, played by Emily T. Parker, is witty and sharp tongued, but as sweet as her husband. Their children, played by Alice Ethington (Martha), Jago Parker (Peter), Ezra Fedderson (Tiny Tim), and Olivia Ethington (Belinda) are adorable and so loving toward one another.
Which brings me to dear Fred, played by Ryan Kinville. He is filled with his mother’s light, and he and his wife, played by Andrea Mullen, never even hint at any unkindness towards his uncle. The party scene in Fred’s home in the present, and the party scene in the past, played in the Fezziwig’s home in the past are both light, joyful, and filled with Christmas celebration. Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig, played by Brinton Wilkins, and Marinda Maxfield are jovial and fill the stage with laughter. The dancing is both formal and absolutely hilarious. There’s nothing quite so fun as seeing a polka. Their daughter Belle, played by Isabelle Headlee, is sweetly determined to be happy. Headlee focuses on this objective throughout her scenes, and her sadness only emerges as an obstacle she must overcome. She is never sad for sadness’ sake. She knows what will make her happy, and she is only sad because her love will never understand.
I have to comment on Brinton Wilkins. He plays several characters throughout, and almost feels like a familiar friend, leading us through the journey. He switches from stoop backed, to wide open, to heavy footed in his many roles.
And now, let’s talk about the man himself. Mark Knowles played a splendid Scrooge. He is honest in every moment. He is open, raw and vulnerable. We understand his thoughts throughout his whole journey. We had the privilege of sitting a few rows in front of his grandchildren, and it was a joy to hear their sweet laughter at their grandfather’s performance. He found the heart and soul of Scrooge. He never played up a joke or over acted anything. Everything was genuine, and we felt every moment with him.
In this telling, Scrooge invites Cratchitt to partner with him in his business, and then he takes his new partner with him as he makes mankind his business. The scene with the tiny little turkey girl, played by Elisabeth Wilkins is absolutely delightful, because she is so sweet, and so very tiny.
Actors Spencer Debenham, Juliet Wendels, and Derek Wayman play several parts with energy and focus. Alice Ethington is regal as Christmas Past. Her costume, designed by Paige Burton, was absolutely gorgeous.
The magic of this production, told with a strong hand by director Spencer J. Hohl, is in their dedication to creating a beautiful story. Each person on that stage was committed to creating an unforgettable experience for the audience. Their connection to one another and to the story is a compliment to the Parker Theatre.
Parker Theatre’s A Christmas Carol plays every Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm from November 25th thru December 24th (Christmas Eve performance will be at 1pm). They also have a matinee at 4:30pm on Saturdays. You can purchase your tickets online by visiting parkertheatre.org/a-christmas-carol or by calling the box office at 801-532-6000. The theater is located at 3605 South State Street in Salt Lake City.
0 Comments