'Christmas Carol' falls flat at Steel Beam
The premiere of "Wild Goat" earlier this year demonstrated that the folks at Steel Beam Theatre know how to stage a musical in a small space.
That intimate, appealing chamber musical by Tony Award winner Mark Hollmann and Daily Herald freelance theater writer Jack Helbig was a nice fit for the St. Charles company. One can't say the same about Steel Beam's latest endeavor, the musical version of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Lynn Ahrens.
With Illinois unemployment topping 11 percent, the economic hardship and want that underscores Dickens' classic tale is particularly resonant now and its message of compassion and hope even more compelling.
Recreating the spectacle of a Broadway production isn't an option for small theater companies, which typically respond to the challenge by paring down everything from the number of cast members to the sets. But while you have to admire director Elizabeth Margolius' attempts to tailor the show to the space, this "Carol" is simply too much musical for Steel Beam. Moreover, some of the curious artistic choices - including an unwieldy set, ill-placed lighting and uninspired costumes - emphasize rather than minimize the poor fit.
Aside from Margolius' cleverly conceived "Link by Link" - in which a Greek chorus forms the chain Scrooge's former partner Jacob Marley forged out of his own avarice - the cumbersome green risers serve little purpose. They merely make a small stage feel more cramped. And inscribing them with some of the story's best known adages feels unnecessary, an unsubtle reminder of the story's moral, further reinforced by projecting Scrooge's epiphany on the backdrop.
A more austere set and straightforward staging would have better served the production and its 14-person cast, most of whom play multiple roles. The problem is, not much distinguishes the characters from each other. What's more, Margolius' staging frequently leaves her actors stranded. When not involved in a scene, most of the actors remain upstage with their heads bowed. Awkward and bit distracting, it's a problem that might be resolved with a less cumbersome set that allows for inconspicuous entrances and exits.
That said, the show sounds good. Peppered with tunes like the sentimental "A Place Called Home," the joyous "Christmas Together" and the thoroughly entertaining, 1920s-inspired "Abundance, Charity," the merry Menken-Ahrens score is pure Broadway. Music director Jeremy Ramey, who served in the same capacity for "Wild Goat," has assembled a competent cast of singers. The women are especially good, suppling the heft the choral numbers require.
A properly dyspeptic Steve Connell (who doubles as Dickens) plays Ebenezer Scrooge, the solitary skinflint visited on Christmas Eve by three ghosts, who try to help him see the error of his ways. Jeffrey A. Ward exudes warmth as the beleaguered Bob Cratchit, and Hillary Patingre is sweet as Emily, the woman young Scrooge (Chad Pedigo) loves and leaves.
Yet the production falls a bit flat in its final moments. At the conclusion of "A Christmas Carol," one expects to see a visual confirmation of reconciliation and friendship. But there's little evidence of that here. Most of Margolius' actors stand apart, separate from each other. It's an odd choice that somewhat diminishes the warm glow that this show typically provides.
"A Christmas Carol"
Two stars
"A Christmas Carol"
Location: Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com
Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 3 and 7:30 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 20
Running time: About 1 hour, 35 minutes with intermission
Tickets: $23, $25
Parking: Nearby garage
Rating: For all ages