The Indiana Repertory Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol is a tradition: first presented from 1980 through 1984, it was revived in 1996 and has been playing every year since. Adapted by Tom Haas from the original story by Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol has a message that has resonated through the century and a half since it was first published.
The story is part of the Western literary canon. Ebenezer Scrooge (Ryan Artzberger) is a cranky, stingy, angry soul who berates his employee Bob Cratchit (Jesse Bhamrah) and turns away the good wishes of his nephew Fred (Aaron Kirby) and his wife Felicity (Ivy Moody) on Christmas Eve. He spurns charity for the poor, asking “are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?” He stomps home, and falls asleep — and is awakened by the ghost of his former friends and business partner Jacob Marley (Rob Johansen) who warns him that the path he his walking will lead to an eternity of misery and despair. Scrooge is then visited by three ghosts: Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future. In each visit, Scrooge sees hard truths. He realizes that the Cratchits, and especially the sickly Tiny Tim (Evie Berry or Audrey Guay), keep the Christmas spirit despite their poverty and hardships. As the ghost of Christmas Future shows him what his “bah, humbug” buys him a cold, unvisited grave and the death of Tiny Tim, Scrooge awakens and realizes that he can change the future by changing his ways.
The large cast of a Christmas Carol narrates the show, and this year’s production boasts new costumes and more music. Marley’s ghost is absolutely scary as he rises from the floor in chains. The show ends on a joyous and giving note, with the entire cast singing a carol. This is a not-to-be-missed tradition.
A Christmas Carol runs through December 26 on the IRT Mainstage. Tickets start at $25 and are available online at IRTLive.com or by calling 317-635-5252.
