By Lonnie the Theater Lady
Everyone knows how Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” ends. Scrooge, frightened by ghosts, blossoms into decency and generosity. Tiny Tim miraculously is restored to good health. Marley is still dead. Award winning actor, director and playwright Tom Mula looks deeper into the story from Jacob Marley’s imaginative point of view. “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” not only provides Marley’s backstory but also serves as a prequel to the Dicken’s classic.
The play opens with the repeated refrain, “Marley was dead: to begin with.” Jacob Marley (Travis Myers-Arrigoni) is wandering through the circles of hell, where he is shocked to learn that he is dead. Apparently, the long, heavy chains draped over his body aren’t enough of a clue for him to realize that he is no longer endowed with life!
Marley desperately wants to transfer out of the underworld so he begs the “Record Keeper” (Elizabeth Glyptis) to provide him with a way out. She assigns him the task of converting the “covetous, old sinner,” Ebeneezer Scrooge (Keith Zagorski) into a kind, generous person. Marley fears this is an impossibility. Fortunately, a devilish aide, Bogle (Noah Kendall) is provided to help him frighten Scrooge into transforming himself. They conspire and rehearse several ways to haunt Scrooge and scare him straight. These spooky practice scenes are extremely funny- -invoking a strong Beetlejuice vibe, including the eerie green lights.
Although Marley is a despicable person, Myers-Arrigoni manages to make him sympathetic and relatable. We find ourselves rooting for his success. His strong emotional reactions all ring true.
Kendall’s Bogle, although devilish, has a childlike innocence and likability. His quirky demeanor and expressive countenances earn him several laughs.
Zagorski is well cast as Scrooge. His physical movements clearly telegraph his metamorphosis, and make his dramatic transformation from miserable curmudgeon to joyous benefactor robust and believable.
Glyptis, a businesslike, efficient “Record Keeper” makes the most of her role. (and sometimes acts as narrator)
This slant on “A Christmas Carol” is a welcome change of perspective. It’s a unique, fresh story of redemption and the much needed hope for which we currently and desperately yearn. Happy holidays!
-LTL
“Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” runs through December 21 at Little Lake Theatre, 500 Lakeside Drive, Canonsburg, PA 15317. For more information, click here.
