The Dipping House is a beautifully atmospheric space to watch a dram event and made a very fitting venue for the Claybody Theatre’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas tale.
And make no bones about it, every inch of that atmosphere was used to create a spellbinding piece of theatre that allowed reminiscences of North Staffordshire’s industrial heritage to creep into the icy streets of Victorian London.
A Christmas Carol is well-known to all. Ebenezer Scrooge (Andrew Price) is a mean and miserly man who is a terrible employer towards Bob Cratchit (Perry Moore) and does not share the Christmas spirit unlike his relation Fred (Jack Quarton). But all is to change on Christmas Eve
Scrooge is to be visited by a succession of ghosts – the first of them being that of his former partner Jacob Marley who warns of the horrors to come in the afterlife if there is no change in the miser’s lifestyle. Marley tells Scrooge that he will be visited by ghosts to represent Christmases Past (Molly Roberts), Present (Purvi Parmar) and Future.
Through these visitations the audience learns that the younger Scrooge was not a misery at all. Even though very much a loner he had the company of his books and had a loving sister in the shape of Fan (Beth Hill). He also had a happy apprenticeship in the Fezziwig establishment where he met Belle (Ava Ralph) who truly loved him but was allowed to slip away.
Scrooge is then shown how – despite declaring Christmas a humbug – his family still hope to have him present at one of their parties and Cratchit – despite living in the utmost poverty and having a child with a debilitating illness – is still able to propose a toast to his employer.
Finally, Scrooge is shown the contempt he will be held in once he has passed on with no one to mourn him and servants picking over his belongings to take to the pawnshop. Little wonder that Scrooge will see the need to change.
There are many versions of this heartwarming story that will be performed over the festive period but this version has to be a stand out and there are several reasons why.
As already mentioned, Adaptor Deborah McAndrew has given the play a North Staffordshire influence and Director Conrad Nelson has neatly incorporated that into the action. Nelson has also given a crispness to the delivery that allows the audience member, even though knowing the synopsis inside out, to believe that this is the first time the story has been presented to them.
In addition, Quarton has composed an original score to accompany the scenes and this adds an extra dimension as does his use of very atmospheric sound effects.
There is also some excellent acting particularly from Price who very effectively portrays the transformation of Scrooge from miserliness to munificence but all cast members contributed admirably to a wonderful evening’s entertainment. It has to be said that the idea of mixing the cast of professional actors with community players and young performers (Albert Atherton, George Babb and Harry Steele) is a winning one and showcases the role that Claybody plays in the local community.
A Christmas Carol has long been one of my favourite pieces of festive fiction and I offer many thanks to Conrad and Deborah, the cast and the creatives for renewing that love with a simply beautiful production. God Bless You All!!
