by kellie abrahamson kabrahamson1@aol.com
The very first time I had ever been to the Alhambra Dinner Theater was back in 2000. My then fiancée took me there as a birthday present and we were lucky enough to see Charles Dickens’ classic story Christmas Carole. Six years and two kids later, my husband and I got the opportunity to see this wonderful holiday favorite once again, this time with the little ones in tow. The Alhambra’s terrific adaptation of Christmas Carole is running from now until Christmas Eve.
We arrived at the theater about 30 minutes into the dinner service (a buffet is served for an hour and fifteen minutes before curtain). The meal was absolutely delicious, with items at are both kid and adult-friendly. My two children tore into the baked chicken while my husband and I opted for the down-home meatloaf and the chef carved roast beef. Jello, fruit cocktail, chocolate cake and chocolate mousse were served for dessert. The kids and I were particularly pleased with the mousse, which was so yummy I’m craving it right this second. By the time we were through with dinner it was time for the show to begin.
Ebenezer Scrooge is the world’s biggest tightwad. He cares about nothing but money and hordes all that he earns, unwilling to part with one red cent even to help those in need. On Christmas Eve, Scrooge, left all alone after finally allowing his employee to go home for the night, finds himself face to face with the spirit of his deceased partner Jacob Marley. Marley, tormented and forced to wear heavy chains because of his stinginess in life, warns Scrooge of his selfishness and tells him that three ghosts will visit him during the night to show him the err of his ways.
There are plenty of versions of Christmas Carole out there. Even the Muppets got into the act back in 1992. While you may be able to find more than one twist on this charming tale, there is nothing quite like seeing it performed on stage, especially with a veteran actor like Tony Triano in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. Triano has played the grumpy penny-pincher for the last 15 years and has perfected his performance so much so that his sneering of “bah, humbug!” was enough to make one of the smallest audience members burst into tears (don’t worry, the trauma only lasted for a moment or two). Triano owns the stage as Scrooge, coming off comical and cruel in the first act and sympathetic and lovable by the end. His mannerisms, the blowing of raspberries after saying “bah, humbug”, the frog-like croaking when trying to even say the word “Christmas,” are simply unforgettable and evoke big laughs from the audience, especially from the children in attendance.
Triano’s fellow actors all hold their own in this production. Kenneth Uibel, who plays Jacob Marley and all of the Ghosts of Christmas, morphs into each role flawlessly, never tipping off the audience that the same actor is appearing on stage more than once as these supernatural characters. Matthew Jay Campbell, who I’ve seen in productions of Beauty and the Beast and the school matinee performances Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, does a nice job as Scrooge’s meek clerk Bob Cratchit. Daniel Goldman, a six-year-old Jacksonville native who has recently made a name for himself in Hollywood by playing the role of Cody in Showtime’s hit series Dexter, nearly stole the show as the irresistibly adorable Tiny Tim. Goldman, who is only in the first grade, got quite a few reactions from the crowd in the brief but pivotal role. Amanda Carlisle and Katie Scott both played minor characters but made impressions with their musical performances.
The only play my children had ever attended was the school matinee Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs I mentioned earlier. They seemed to really enjoy that one, but I was still a bit concerned that anything longer would be too much for their attention spans. Were it not for the intermission that may have been the case! Both kids watched the show intently during the first act but immediately wanted to get up and stretch their legs during the break. My daughter, who is four, talked to me a bit about what she thought so far. Her opinion at the half way point was “Mr. Scrooge is mean!” By the end of the show, however, my little girl was smiling from ear to ear and is still quoting Scrooge’s famous “bah, humbug” nearly a week later. My two-year-old son has also taken a liking to the phrase, although I think it’s because of the raspberries he gets to blow at the end.
Christmas Carole is easily my favorite play to see at the Alhambra. The story always puts me in a great mood and I don’t think I’ll ever be bored of it. If you’re not quite feeling the holiday spirit yet, a visit to the Alhambra this month will quickly turn that around. For tickets and more information call (904) 641-1212.
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