By Conor O’Neill
Photography courtesy of Lyric Theatre.
I wasn’t feeling like Christmas, so I did my usual tradition and put The Pogues Fairytale of New York, hopped into a taxi and made my way over to The Lyric Theatre. Now the festive cheer started to thaw my bones and redden my cheeks, the couple of Guinness might have helped too.
7pm kick off and suddenly I dropped into Victorian times with workhouses, destitution and the great divide between the rich and the poor all at the fore. Not much has changed in since Dickens enthralled the masses in 1843 with arguably the most reproduced theatrical Christmas show since theatre began. The message from A Christmas Carol is as universal as Santa, Rudolph and the pine needles falling off your Christmas tree.
This Dickens adaptation comes from the pen of Northern Ireland theatre royalty, AKA Marie Jones and is directed by her son Matthew McElhinney. Jones was at the opening night and I’m sure she’s happy with her work. If memory serves true, I believe I’ve seen this very production at The Lyric in the not too distance past. Many of the cast are the same from last year aiding and abetting the old adage ‘if it ain’t not broke, don’t fix it’.
I’m sure most of you readers are familiar with the plot. For those who have been living under a rock for the last one hundred plus years, here’s a brief synopsis: curmudgeonly old git and miser Ebeneezer Scrooge get visited by three ghosts, those of Christmas Past, Present and Future in the early hours of Christmas day and is made to reflect on his past, present and future. None of which pleases him.
Scrooge (pictured above) is expertly played by Dan Gordon running the gauntlet of emotions from anger, resentment, realisation and finally redemption. Today’s billionaires should take note. Gordon is the only cast member to play one role and he does it with aplomb. The other nine cast members double and triple up as a collective array of roles, each and every one as necessary as those before and after.
We follow Scrooge from his childhood in Banbridge, through to his romance with Belle, working for the easy going Fizziwigs, meeting up with co conspirator Jacob Marley (Marty Maguire) and his fall into his miserable ways.
The set, designed by Stuart Marshall, could be argued as a cast member itself. We’re delved into Victorian smog and tight city alleyways where the rich and poor live cheek to jowl. Many of today’s Belfast landmarks, and Northern Ireland either feature or are referred to. Pottingers Entry, Ardglass herrings, Crumlin Road jail and others all make this adaptation feel like home, relatable to all in the audience.
The costumes, designed by Catherine Kodicek, add to the Victorian experience and with it bring to life the array of characters. Add the music and sound design by Garth McConaghie and the choir of Saint Peter’s cathedral and all the elements are there to totally engage us.
We see both sides of the social divide; the homeliness of Bob Cratchit’s (Shaun Blaney) stark but loving home to the loneliness of Scrooge’s sprawling mansion. There’s a claustrophobic feeling throughout the play. Tension creeps into every scene, lighting designer Mary Tumelty’s work makes the Lyric’s main stage feel cramped and overbearing. The term ‘immersive theatre’ is bandied about all too often, but it perfectly describes the vibe of this piece.
(The marvelous actor Marty Maguire as Jacob Marley, and other characters)
We all know the ending, but its delivery is a quiet reminder of how life should be lived. Scrooge finally see the error of his ways and from its purposely dreary beginning the end of the play is a testament to what Christmas should be about.
I highly recommend you go and see this show. It’s guaranteed to warm the cockles of your heart and put a spring in your step this winter.
A Christmas Carol runs up to and including January 10th, 2025. For booking details visit http://www.lyrictheatre.co.uk or simply phone the box office on 02890 381081.
ENDS
CultureCrush NI 