A Christmas Carol at KC Repertory Theatre

Marley was dead, to begin with... so opens the beloved Christmas ghost story as the Kansas City Repertory Theatre takes us to Victorian England for the quintessentially idyllic holiday tradition - their annual live rendition of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol.

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I have many fond memories of the production over the years, and it is a joy to share the timeless tale with my daughters. The KC Rep stage truly transforms into 1843 London and the cast becomes the living embodiment of the characters they portray. Having read Dickens' book almost every Advent for over thirty years, I am always amazed and impressed at the ability of the Rep's stars to bring the characters so accurately to life. Topping the list is Ebenezer Scrooge himself, portrayed by Gary Neal Johnson, who has been pronouncing "Bah Humbug" for audiences in the starring role for decades. Johnson's miserly portrayal is spot-on as if escaping directly from the pages of the book onto the stage. The rest of the casting is equally excellent, with Walter Coppage as the narrator, and all four ghosts (Jacob Marley, Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future) weaving their magic beautifully through the tale.

The Rep always strives to improve the production... which is admittedly challenging with such a familiar story to tell and a reputation for telling it with excellence. The show is staged in historical London using rotating staircases to depict indoor and outdoor scenes from different perspectives without interrupting the play for scene changes. The music is beautiful and the accompaniment of the harp is an extra special element of the show. Likewise, the costuming has been perfected over the years with my favorite, the Ghost of Christmas Present, delighting audiences as he becomes a giant right before your eyes.

Watching the play is much like enjoying a cup of hot cider on a cold winter's day... it is warm, delicious, and a touch surprising. The story is, after all, a ghost story, and there are many haunting and spooky elements as old Scrooge is transformed by the poignant, sad, and still often humorous lessons taught by the ghosts. What is especially charming is the way the moral of the story unfolds without preaching, without lecture, but through the beautiful transformation of a villain into a caring, compassionate, generous, and sympathetic human being.

This is one holiday tradition we hope never to miss!

A Christmas Carol is performing through Dec. 24 at the Spencer Theater on the UMKC Campus. Buy Tickets to A Christmas Carol online.

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Parental Notes:

I believe it is best for parents to determine when their children are ready for certain literary themes, so I will not recommend an age, but I will list a few things to consider when taking kids to the show:

• A Christmas Carol is a ghost story and many of the ghosts are frightening in their entrances, exits, and appearances. Jacob Marley is especially spooky with his chains and makeup as he rises to stage from the grave. The Ghost of Christmas Present has two urchin children living beneath his skirt and they make an appearance. The Ghost of Christmas Future appears much like the Grim Reaper and is particularly haunting.
• Themes of death and dying are present throughout, including the potential death of the child, Tiny Tim.
• The First Act is 49 Minutes, there is a 15 Minute Intermission, the Second Act is then 56 Minutes. The vocabulary of the script may be difficult for young attention spans.