MANSFIELD – The tale of Ebenezer Scrooge will kick off the holiday season this weekend as the Renaissance Theatre presents a musical re-imagination of Charles Dickens’ classic story, “A Christmas Carol.”
First published by Dickens in 1843, “A Christmas Carol” tells the story of prosperous curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge, who believes personal wealth is far more valuable than the happiness and comfort of others.
Scrooge is forced to face his selfish ways when three ghosts on Christmas Eve lead him through his past, present and future. Thanks to their guidance, Scrooge recognizes his faults and greets Christmas morning by reconnecting and sharing love with those that mean the most to him.
“It’s a story of redemption, and whether someone who has spent his life rejecting people and pushing people away can make a change and admit to making a mistake,” said director Michael Thomas. “Luckily an old friend comes back to warn him and try to save him, and it’s very impactful.”
“A Christmas Carol” will take place in a Victorian warehouse-like setting on the Renaissance stage, built by set designer Jason Kaufman. Music direction is led by Deb Logan, choreography by Shannon Maloney, and lighting and sound design by Chad Eaton.
Surrounded by paintings of original Dickens characters, 22 local actors will perform as “The Greater Lower Dowsbridge Dramatic Society and Light Opera Company,” an acting troupe created for the purpose of the show’s setting.
Bringing Scrooge to life at the Renaissance is Stephen Thompson, a Lexington native who returned to the area from his current residence in New York City specifically for this role. Instead of playing Scrooge as the typical mean miser, Thompson aims to bring a note of humanity to the character.
“He’s had a rough time, and the only thing that’s been constant for him is money,” Thompson said. “It’s something he can control, and he withholds it because if he gives it away he feels like he has nothing.”
Thompson believes that with Scrooge, he believes his struggles actually make him a better human being – feeling that more people should be on that same page.
“A lot of us do that,” Thompson said. “Most shows I’ve seen portray Scrooge as just this grouchy old man, but you have to understand how he got there to really understand him. I hope that’s what’s apparent in this show.”
“A Christmas Carol” at the Renaissance will be scored by Broadway all-star composer Alan Menken, who also scored Disney’s “Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Thomas said the music itself would drive the emotion in this particular iteration of “Christmas Carol.”
“I think it is a really true, authentic interpretation of the story,” Thomas said. “For folks who love beautiful musical theatre, it combines an amazing story and much-loved story with the most beautiful score that’s ever been written for this show.”
The music, Thomas said, will take audiences back to feeling the original emotions meant to be felt for “A Christmas Carol.” According to actor Colton Penwell, playing Bob Cratchit, those emotions can often be sadder than typical “Christmas Carol” interpretations.
“We bring a little bit of what Dickens had intended with this show in that it’s a little more dark, and it really plays up the humanity so when Scrooge has that turn at the end, it’s much more powerful,” Penwell said. “There’s still levity, but the heavy stuff is quite heavy.”
It brings about a new challenge for Penwell as an actor, who typically plays the self-described “second banana” role in his previous eight shows at the Renaissance.
“It’s made me have to do more character development than I normally do, but this is my all-time favorite Christmas story so I know Bob Cratchit inside and out,” Penwell said.
The very human story of redemption is also reflected in the portrayal of the three ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. Lori Turner, who plays the ghost of Christmas Future, said she appreciated the choice to acknowledge the difficult parts of the holiday.
“Often in Christmas we’re all so wrapped up in everybody being happy and jolly, you forget that there are deeper levels to the season,” Turner said. “Scrooge can’t really be redeemed unless you know how truly awful he is beforehand.”
“And what caused his awfulness,” added Maddie Penwell, who plays the ghost of Christmas Past. “At face value he’s a horrible, evil man, then through the stories we tell as ghosts you see that he was treated so poorly and made a couple bad choices, and this is how he ended up.”
“A Christmas Carol” will run for two weekends at the Renaissance, starting Saturday, Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. followed by Nov. 13 at 2:30 p.m., Nov. 19 at 8 p.m., and closing Nov. 20 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $35 and are available online at MansfieldTickets.com, or by visiting or calling the Renaissance Box Office at 419-522-2726.
More than anything, the cast of “A Christmas Carol” hoped for audiences to start the holidays in Mansfield by remembering the true spirit of the season.
“I hope people are leaving thinking about being kind to each other,” Turner said.
“Especially in the atmosphere we are in now, and how our differences are being advertised as human beings,” said Thompson. “I hope this brings a sense of community and togetherness and helps us drive for something better.”
