By Claire DeMarco
“Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge” takes the classic Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” and turns it upside down.
It starts with the traditional characters of the Ghost (Chelsea Davis) attempting to convince Ebenezer Scrooge (Tony Bingham) that goodness is a virtue and one he should embrace. He’s not convinced.
We’re introduced to some of those characters we’re familiar with from Dickens’ classic. Bob Cratchit (Michael McBurney) is kind, poor, and family-oriented. Tiny Tim’s (Sami Sollon) upbeat personality prevails, and Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig (Gordon Robertson and Candice Fisher) are as charming as ever.
And then we meet Mrs. Bob Cratchit (Tonilyn Jackson), who is no longer the long-suffering, kind character we remember. She is miserable, mean, and constantly complains. Now burdened with twenty children, she tends to indulge in a drink or two (or more) and continually threatens to throw herself off London Bridge.
Ghost attempts to redeem Scrooge, constantly zapping him with her ever-present wand as she takes him back to the past and into the future. Her strategy to see goodness often goes awry as her wand-driving inadvertently carries both timelines out of step with the story.
This hilarious parody takes on the components of the original classic, elevating it to a new height of absurdity.
Note: And that is the beauty and complete comedy of this production. If you think you hear references to a multitude of other Christmas-themed works, you are right! Flashes from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Oliver Twist,” and many more are inserted subtly into the script.
If you’re wondering how this parody ends, I’m not telling. My lips are sealed!
Davis delivers as the Ghost, balancing humor, determination, and constant pressure as she attempts to convince Scrooge to see the light. She effectively manages a multitude of emotions. She is witty, sassy, engaging, and sometimes perplexed.
Bingham is excellent as the grouchy Scrooge. His facial expressions, gymnastics, and bent-over posture enhance his characterization of the “mean old man”. His reaction and antics to children singing “Silent Night” are classic.
As Mrs. Cratchit’s husband, McBurney, constantly sees the positive side of his situation, which is bleak, but he’s too nice to see it. He is always happy and never stands up for himself.
Many of Jackson’s lines are sarcastic and mostly mean. She delivers them with relish, often with a larger-than-life grin on her face. Her performance as a “meanie” is convincing.
There’s never been a Little Nell quite like Gallagher. With long blonde braids and a large dress, and a straight face, he is side-splittingly funny.
Nackman plays Angel Clarence, a character not in Dickens’ original classic. Never smiling and with an enormous set of wings attached to his back, he is not angelic, but his comedy comes from his deadpan expressions, movements, and remarks.
Although appearing briefly, Robertson and Fisher sing a funny duet as one of the few genuinely happy people in the play. Balancing their flamboyant wigs (almost a foot high) while cavorting around the stage is itself an accomplishment.
Sollon’s kind, gentle nature comes through as Tiny Tim.
“Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge” was written by Christopher Durang. with terrific costume design by Alex Righetti, and excellent direction by Nathan Walter.
-CED
“Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge” runs from December 4th to December 21st at Little Lake Theatre, 500 Lakeside Drive, Canonsburg, PA. For tickets and additional information, click here.
