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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Dueling Scrooges vie
for holiday audiences<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Bob
Abelman<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">News-Herald,
Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times
Courier<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Member,
International Association of Theatre Critics <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">This
review appeared in the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">News-Herald
</I>on<I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> </I>12/11/09</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Charles Dickens’ work
was so popular in London in the 1840s that there were twelve different stage
productions of his Christmas story <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The
Cricket on the Hearth</I>. </SPAN><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN">The
very first theatrical adaptation of his <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A
Christmas Carol</I></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> occurred before the
novel was even completed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">He is popular
still.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Like the ghosts that visit
</SPAN><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"><A
title="Ebenezer Scrooge" href=""><SPAN
style="COLOR: windowtext; TEXT-DECORATION: none; text-underline: none">Ebenezer
Scrooge</SPAN></A> during his one-night transformation from malevolent miser to
charitable cherub, there are several productions of <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A Christmas Carol</I></SPAN><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> </SPAN><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN">currently
appearing on Cleveland-area stages.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The question is not whether to see one of these staples of the holiday
season, but which one to see.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The options range
from community theatre productions to professional performances, and include the
Geauga Lyric Theater Guild’s offering in Chardon and the Great Lakes Theater
Festival’s rendition at PlayhouseSquare, respectively.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Some comparative shopping is in order
for this old roasted chestnut of a play.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Comparing community
and equity productions may seem like judging apples against oranges.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, Dickens’ himself placed equal
value on these fruits when describing their magnificent display in the Christmas
shops of Scrooge’s neighborhood: “There were Norfolk Biffins (apples), squab and
swarthy, setting off the yellow of the oranges in the great compactness of their
juicy persons,” which were “<SPAN style="COLOR: black">urgently entreating and
beseeching to be carried home in paper bags and eaten after
dinner.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Both
pieces of produce are attractive and tempting in their own right, as are the
Geauga Lyric and Great Lakes productions.</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">A Christmas
Carol</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> is only as good as
its Scrooge.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>S<SPAN
class=style171><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">ome skills are
required</SPAN></SPAN> to convincingly transform from “a squeezing, wrenching,
grasping” miser who believes that “e<SPAN class=style171><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">very idiot who goes around with a
Merry Christmas on his lips ought to be boiled in his own pudding,” to a man who
“knew how to keep Christmas well.”</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
class=style171><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN class=style171><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN class=style171><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The Geauga Lyric
production rates a 7-out-of-10 on the Bah, H</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">umbug Barometer.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Tom Hill, who is reprising the role of
Scrooge, delivers blistering sound and fury from his opening line, but he too
quickly dissipates into gushing subservience and too easily embraces earnest
good will upon his close encounter with the apparitions.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In Hill’s defense, he is hampered by an
adaptation that replaces brilliant dialogue with the occasional mindless musical
number, which significantly waters down the Dickens.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><STRONG><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">The
Great Lakes’ Aled Davies, who is also </SPAN></STRONG><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">returning for his
second stint in the lead role, is a full-throttled Scrooge whose metamorphosis
is much more methodical, genuine and endearing.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>His emotional testimony to “<SPAN
style="COLOR: black">honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the
year” is as good as it gets, earning him a 10</SPAN>-out-of-10 on the Scrooge
scale.<B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p></o:p></B></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Another point of
comparison is the Cratchit Quotient—the overriding sentimentality that is at the
very core of this play.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If hobbled
Tiny Tim’s catchphrase “God bless us, everyone” doesn’t inspire a collective
sigh and communal tear from the audience, justice is not being done to
Dickens.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In
the Geauga Lyric production, 10-year-old Ryan Vincent is the definitive Tiny
Tim.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He is natural on stage, has
genuine acting chops—having recently appeared in </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Opera Cleveland’s
season opener <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">The Barber of Seville</SPAN></I></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">—and
is as cute as the Dickens.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He is
surrounded by a flock of equally adorable urchins that director Lisa-Marie
French parades about the beautifully appointed Chardon Theatre. Christmas cheer
blankets the room like a thick wave of sublimated dry ice, which deserves a
10-out-of-10.</SPAN><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Eight-year-old
Cameron Nelson is a precious and marvelously minuscule Tiny Tim in the Great
Lakes offering.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, many of
the child actors in this production suffer from pathological
stage-sweetness.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They deliver
broadly animated-but-automated smiles, glistening-yet-vacant eyes and
fine-but-too-refined performances. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They are little kids playing little kids,
not being little kids.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Lots of
talent but little warmth emanate from the Ohio Theatre proscenium, resulting in
a 6-out-of-10 rating.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Also part of the
Cratchit Quotient is the humility generated by the family patriarch.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Great Lakes’ Andrew May, who directs
this 21<SUP>st</SUP> annual production of <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A Christmas Carol</I>, is also one of the
best actors in Cleveland.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He is a
moving and memorable Bob Cratchit.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>So is Mike Bollinger, whose stage experience does not go beyond Chardon
but whose performance in the Geauga Lyric production soars.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He matches May’s meekness, sincerity and
purity. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Give each production 2
bonus points.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">For many, <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A Christmas Carol</I> is all about the
pageantry—the grand party at the Fezziwig’s, the festive street scene, the stage
magic that manifests and manipulates the visiting spirits.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Clearly, the Great
Lakes production has superior bells and whistles. It generates the kind of awe
one expects from a professionally staged holiday show and absolutely makes the
trip downtown worthwhile. The awe factor warrants a 10-out-of-10.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The Geauga Lyric
production is modest by comparison, a 7-out-of-10.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, its small-scale staging is more
than sufficient for a small town production.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It nicely captures the festiveness of
the holiday season and seeing neighbors and friends join in on this enterprise
adds an ingredient that can only be found on the community stage.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Give it 1 bonus point for proving
that home is where the heart is for a holiday production.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The play ends with
Scrooge avowing to “<SPAN style="COLOR: black">live in the Past, the Present,
and the Future.” <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So too does <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A Christmas Carol</I>, in all its
forms.</SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"></SPAN></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black">Go see the Great Lakes rendition for its production
values.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Go see the Geauga Lyric
production for its family values.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">A Christmas
Carol</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> continues through
December 23 at PlayhouseSquare’s Ohio Theatre and through December 20 at the
Geauga Theater in Chardon.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For GLTF
tickets, which range from $28 to $59, call 216-241-6000 or visit <B><A
href=""><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><FONT
color=#0000ff>www.greatlakestheater.org</FONT></SPAN></A>; </B><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">f</SPAN>or GLTG tickets, which range from $12
to $18, call 440-286-2255 or visit <A href=""><FONT
color=#0000ff>www.geugatheater.org</FONT></A>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>