[NEohioPAL] RAVE REVIEW of A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Actors' Summit

[Neil Thackaberry]

Review

Silly, somber take stage for holidays December 09,2010 07:30 AM GMTKerry
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Scrooge
production delivers

plenty of talent

By Kerry Clawson
Beacon Journal staff writer

Published on Thursday, Dec 09, 2010


 *'A Christmas Carol' *


Some folks may think if you've seen one rendition of *A Christmas
Carol, *you've
seen them all. Not so with the richly imaginative staging in Actors'
Summit's production, adapted by Doris Baizley.


This is the rendition the Cleveland Play House's resident company performed
for years, and Akron audiences are lucky to experience it decades later. In
this version, which runs 90 minutes without intermission, a troupe of
traveling players has their prop girl and stage manager jump into the roles
of Tiny Tim and Scrooge to help tell this timeless Dickens tale.


Connie and Neil Thackaberry direct a talented cast of 11 under the
advisement of Wayne Turney, a former Cleveland Play House company member who
worked with Actors' Summit for years.


At Greystone Hall, a huge trunk designed by Will Neuert dominates the stage,
turned sideways on its end. As the playmaking starts, the trunk opens wide
to cleverly reveal shelves of backstage trappings, including props and
costumes.


The simplest elements of stagecraft make this production truly remarkable.
That includes Bob Keefe holding a door knocker in front of his face outside
Scrooge's residence, removing it to reveal his head wrapped in a bandage,
uplit in eerie fashion.


Later, cast members cover their faces with gruesome Scrooge masks when he
looks in on his own funeral. Neil Thackaberry's voice alone is awe-inspiring
as Scrooge, from his cruel-sounding tones to those of despair and, finally,
joy.


Dreary lighting pervades Scrooge's blackest moments. The miser speaks to
both Marley and the Ghost of Christmas Future (Keefe) in near darkness,
which makes these scenes all the more frightening.


The production is a true ensemble effort, with the players taking turns
narrating the story. Many are Actors' Summit newcomers, including Melissa
Brobeck, Joe Dunn, Cassie Newmann, Emma Picht and Mark Seven.


The directors have created a beautiful flow that seamlessly incorporates
their actors' additional talents, including violin playing by Miller South
sixth-grader Picht, singing by the classically trained Brobeck and flute
playing by Newmann. The Thackaberrys also have added beautiful handbell
playing onstage, led by Seven.


A big part of the production's beauty is how its stage magic is laid bare:
An actor clad in a black robe spins Scrooge's bed around to represent him
flying over London with the Ghost of Christmas Past. And in the end, two
actors create a wave of beautiful snow with a glittering white swath of
fabric.

Arts writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or
kclawson at thebeaconjournal.com

-- 
Neil Thackaberry
Co-artistic Director
Actors' Summit, a professional theater
103 South High Street
6th Floor
Akron OH 44308
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