Crown City Theatre Revives Its Popular Chicago Christmas Carol

A Chicago Christmas Carol
book & music by William A. Reilly; lyrics by Gary Lamb
directed by Brent Beerman
Crown City Theatre Company
through December 19

With a plethora of reproductions of Charles Dickens' most famous work, it is nice to see one that stands tall, remaining faithful to the original story and introducing a slightly new slant...and with music too. Crown City Theatre's A Chicago Christmas Carol is one big Christmas present to the entire community, reminding one and all of the urgency of humility and generosity.

Set in Chicago in 1908, Scrooge (Gary Lamb) is in charge of a meat packing company, originated in partnership with Jacob Marley (Dave Berges) and Mr. Fezziwig (Kevin Michael Moran). He is also a landlord, evicting impoverished tenants left and right without the teeniest bit of conscience. Most of the story is in tact as we know it from Dickens, but in this version Freddy Munson (Paul Marchegiani) is Scrooge's nephew and the Cratchits are not related to Scrooge, but Bob (also Kevin Michael Moran) is still in his employ. Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Marley and the three spirits of past, present and future... and the outcome remains, indeed, a happy one.

Lamb is a delight as Scrooge, never going over the top, but making him thoroughly unlikeable until the last chapter. Berges is terrific as Marley. With beanpole height he towers over Scrooge making his ghostly chain shaking scene frightening and funny simultaneously. Louis Silvers is a hoot as the Ghost of Christmas Present, milking and savoring each and every word and gesture. Among the ladies, outstanding contributions are made by Paton Ashbrook as Isabella Fezziwig, Susan Grozier as Maria Jessup, an irate evicted tenant with her young daughter Christine (Sadie Calvano) in tow, and Anne Mannal superb in four roles including Headmistress. Kudos as well to everyone else.

Keiko Moreno's dark set design serves well for both interior and exterior locales. Stephanie Pease provides some lively choreography, and Brent Beerman keeps the pacing nice and tight.
The music is mostly uplifting, with the beautiful ballad "Robinson Crusoe" sung cherishingly by Lamb, my favorite.

This is a wonderful representation of the Dickensian classic, proving once more that good theatre is right in our backyard. Crown's show rings in the holiday season with gusto.