Neary's 'Carol' is an instant classic

Monday, December 2, 2002

By Paul Kolas

TELEGRAM & GAZETTE REVIEWER

A CHRISTMAS CAROL; a new musical adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic by Jack Neary. At Foothills Theatre, Worcester Common Outlets, 100 Front Street, Suite 137, Worcester. Performances at 2 and 8 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays through December 29. Tickets $29 to $32. Student tickets available. Call (508) 754-4018 for reservations.

     With John Davin, Wil Darcangelo, Dawn Tucker, Cory Scott, Shana Carr, Stephanie Carlson, Bob Dolan, Meaghan Boeing, Kevin Brooks, Jared A. Brown, Bob Dolan, Colleen Kelley, Jay R. Goldberg, Maya Morales, Elizabeth Asti, Amanda Grayum, Eduardo Morales, Josette E. Newsam, Chip Phillips, Jacob Peters, Nathaniel D. Vilandre and Jake Wetherbee. @ WORCESTER-- The protean Jack Neary and his top-notch crew and cast have removed any signs of ≥Bah, Humbug!≤ and staged a delightful interpretation of Charles Dickens' classic in front of an appreciative crowd yesterday afternoon.

      What Neary has done is to fully realize the emotional epiphany of the story, allowing his Scrooge to do a most gratifying metamorphosis from a hateful and bitter loner to a man reborn. Redemption has always been at the heart of Dickens' tale, the chance to make amends for a life gone astray. When the story is as well presented as this, the feeling here is one of joy and the belief in second chances.

     Of course the crucial ingredient here is the actor who plays Scrooge. Is he someone you can loathe but still feel pity for? Can he fill you with warm gratification when he has gone through his harrowing encounters with the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, and become a man able to reclaim the past and re-invent his future? John Davin answers those questions with a resounding and emphatic yes.

     There is a growl and scowl to his early Scrooge that is wonderfully shaded. His mannerisms reflect the guarded paucity of his ravished soul, lashing out at those that would have him join in the spirit of Christmas, including his determined nephew, Fred (wonderfully measured by Cory Scott).

     It's great fun to watch Davin stare down all those who would dare to question his opinion on all matters pertaining to Christmas. You can feel him give way as he sees what was, is, and will be if he chooses to continue on his present course. When he finally relinquishes the old Scrooge and embraces the tide of a new beginning, poignantly italicized by a lovely reunion with his long-ago love Belle (played with piercing sweetness and resolve by Stephanie Carlson), you almost feel like jumping up on stage and hugging the old codger.

     Gavin dots every ≥i≤ and crosses every ≥t≤ with his performance, delighting in dispensing alarm and anxiety to all that would defy his miserly ways (including his downtrodden clerk Bob Cratchit, played with the right amount of diffidence by Wil Darcangelo), and then relishing the look of shock and amazement on those same faces when he cavalierly tosses his money around to those once cowering souls.

     This is a large cast full of vivid performances, including Shana Carr as Fred's wife, Dorothy, Jared A. Brown as Topper/Dick, Meaghan Boeing as Christmas Past (and her adorably diminutive protege Maya Morales as the next Christmas Past to Be), Kevin Brooks as Christmas Present, Bob Dolan as Fezziwig, Chip Phillips as an indelible ghost of Jacob Marley, Colleen Kelley as the irascible chambermaid Gladys, and Dawn Tucker as Mrs. Cratchit.

     It is noteworthy that Mr. Neary has written his own adaptation here, and he has succeeded in capturing the essence of Dickens' story and managing to royally entertain us in the bargain. Jim Rice's music arrangements complement the story fluidly without being obtrusive, Kurt S. Hultgren's costumes are simply eye candy, Mikey Wiseman's tech work shines and Edward Thurber's sound design is spookily inventive. Raise your spirits and head to Foothills.