Chrysler Theatre is the go-to place for the best acts in comedy, music, theatre and kids entertainment. I attended Windsor Light Music Theatre’s: A Christmas Carol, directed by Michael Roy and musical director Nicholas Morvay, on Saturday November 18th and it is nothing short of pure joy.
A Christmas Carol: The Musical is an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ most well-known story following the story of Ebenezer Scrooge. Mr. Scrooge is a wealthy curmudgeon who hates Christmas and believes that personal wealth is far more important than the happiness and wellbeing of others. With an infuriated “Bah! Humbug!”, Scrooge repeatedly expresses his distaste of Christmas tidings and being charitable to his fellow townspeople, but he’s forced to face his selfish ways on Christmas Eve when three spirits pay him a visit. Scrooge embarks on an influential journey exploring his past, present and future.
The acting and directing exceeded beyond expectations. Jim Reid is the perfect choice when portraying infamous Ebenezer Scrooge. His accent, singing and acting was perfect for the miserly protagonist and did not leave a boring moment on stage. He did so much justice to the character that made him the ideal lead. Mario Caschera’s rendition of Bob Cratchit had such an outstanding chemistry with James Fleming’s Tiny Tim that when they shared a duet, one got chills. They made the perfect pair as father and son and added an extra level of emotion to the play. Meanwhile, David Burrows’ Ghost of Jacob Marley had a brief role, but absolutely shined and was one of the most memorable characters of the show.
Choreographer Diana Kindiak did an incredible job. Every time there was dancing, it was breathtaking, well-timed and perfectly in sync. When the Ghost of Christmas Present had her solo, she told an emotional story without using any words and held incredible impact on the audience.
The design elements of the stage were ingenious, well-crafted and made for perfect scene changes and transitions. The costuming was so beautiful, had incredible flow that really added to the actor’s characterization of their roles and added that extra layer of immersive storytelling because it was so well suited for time period. The scenic lighting was magical, well-timed, and perfectly set the mood when the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future were joining the scene or teaching Scrooge a lesson. The orchestra was amazing, and the live music added so much power to the scenes and the production. The set and props were well-made, and the design concept was well thought out which made for smooth transitions and set up. Additionally, the special effects added an extra layer of Christmas magic, and you will leave feeling holly jolly.
This play is must-see this holiday season and was one of the best productions I have ever been witness to. The acting was impactful, and the singing was flawless. The performance was emotional, uplifting and made for non-stop entertainment.
A Christmas Carol: The Musical continues this weekend (Nov. 25-27). Tickets are available at Chrysler Theatre (201 Riverside Dr W. Windsor), by phone at 519-252-6579, on the Windsor Light Website.
