(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Falls' A Christmas Carol' at ACT celebrates 39 years as the Abbreviated Dickens Classic!

Wright as Scrooge              P: Bennion

by MK Scott

It is hard to fathom that I had never seen a stage version of a Christmas Carol, until now. Seattle's ACT theater stages this production of the Dickens' Classic Adaptation into a ONE Act, 90 min. version now in its 39th year by ACT Founder, Gregory Falls and Directed by the associate Artistic Director, John Langs has cleverly woven this classic story and staged it in the ROUND, with lots of trap doors and projected images on tapestry. The Dickens Carolers set the mood and the tone as we meet Ebenezer Scrooge (Seattle's Best Theater Actor, R. Hamilton Wright) and Bob Cratchit (James Lapan) as he is forced to work on Christmas Eve.

As Scrooge prepares for bed, he is visited by the ghost of his late 'Partner', Jacob Marley (David Foubert) with a warning of 3 spirits, Past (Sydney Andrews), Present (Charles Leggett) and Future (Scott Abernethy).


In the past we learn that Scrooge had an arranged marriage with Belle (Khanh Doan) and lets her go, and then we see Scrooge in the present as Cratchit and family try to stay happy together despite Tiny Tim's (Cedric Wade)  imminent short life. Mrs Cratchit's (Anne Allgood) visible distrust in Ebenezer. We also see Scrooge's nephew, Fred (played by the Gorgeous, Brian Earp) joking behind his uncle's back and counting days until Ebenezer's demise.

Marley and Scrooge?                   P: Bennion

Of course, one could argue and it has that Jacob Marley and Scrooge were more than business partners, but in this adaptation, we still don't know was what Marley's significance was.

In the future Scrooge is shocked of how little people thought of him after his death and how Tiny Tim suffered and perished.

As the sun rises, Scrooge wakes up with breath of energy and starts to change his ways in the spirit of the holiday.

It is easy to look for hidden meanings and the more you get into the story, the more hope you feel.

ACT's A Christmas Carol continues through December 28th . Click Here for tickets and show times.