Get Out More..........................Musical Review

SCROOGE (The Alexandra, Birmingham, until Jan 26)

17-01-2008

Shane Richie reprises his popular role as the central character in this musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”. Terry Wills swallows the humbug.

On December 27th 1843 Charles Dickens appeared at Birmingham Town Hall to give the first public reading of his now immortal novel ‘A Christmas Carol’ - one of the principal characters being a miserly Ebenezer Scrooge.

Down the years this timeless story has been seen and heard in varying guises. Stage, screen, radio, television, even animation, and then in 1951 the first version of ‘Scrooge –The Musical’ made it’s debut. Since then it’s grown in stature and popularity and the current production, based at the Alexandra Theatre, judging from the opening night audience, seems well set to continue the trend.

It’s Christmas Eve. The name above the Counting House still shows ‘Scrooge and Marley’ despite Marley being dead, buried, and long since forgotten.

Employee Bob Cratchit who had worked for Scrooge for 15 years for the princely sum of 15/-(75 pence) a week without any hint of an increase bids his employer a Merry Christmas and - almost cowering in fear - has the temerity to ask Scrooge if he could have the wages that would enable him to provide a taste of Christmas ‘spirit’ for a wife and children. (The youngest being ‘Tiny’ Tim. Who sadly needs to be carried by his father or limp along with the aid of a crutch, when venturing out on to the dark dismal Victorian Streets)

The accepted and expected response… “Christmas! Bah!, Humbug!”

The heart of the story beats in anticipation. Scrooge trudges home to his sparsely furnished house, on the way dismissing any signs of seasonal greetings from relatives, beggars, and those in debt to him.

Wallowing in his own misery he’s astounded to find himself confronted by the ghost of his late partner Silas Marley who warns that he’ll live to regret the error of his ways. Dismissing this as a delusion he retires to bed only to be rudely awakened as the chimes of Big Ben bring his personal nightmares to fruition.

Enter the Three Ghosts in turn. Depicting Christmas Past, Present and Future, courtesy of technical wizardry, and as each one gradually manages to convince Scrooge that he was the most hated man in London, the final scene, encompassing Scrooge’s total transformation to the happiest Father Christmas imaginable accompanied by the whole cast singing the hit song “Thank you very much”, is a perfect heart warming climax.

Scrooge is perfect family entertainment. Boasting a cast over 40 it has impressive set changes, rousing chorus work, and splendid individual performances. None better than the youngster playing ‘Tiny’ Tim who surely has a very promising theatrical career waiting in the wings.

But towering above them all is the performance of Shane Ritchie. He’s on stage throughout mixing the necessary amount of misery and humour in equal proportions and for those who only remember him from his role in Eastenders the make up department and costume designers have managed to provide a total transformation.

Of course he’s no stranger to the Birmingham summed up on the opening night as he peeled off his wig, bowed to the audience, gave a broad smile, and in typical Alfie Moon style (on a wet miserable January Night) shouted “It’s great to be back in Birmingham”-“Merry Christmas” and a “Happy Valentine”!

To Shane Ritchie, from all patrons who’ll eventually book to see Scrooge, I’ll echo the lyrics of the show stopping hit number “Thank YOU very much” for a very enjoyable evening.