A Christmas Carol Comedy – Courtesy of Tory Hudson. Used with permission.
Indy playwright-director-actor Ben Asayqwee is celebrated for his theatrical flair and wit. Nowhere is his gift for quirky comedy more evident than in his “A Christmas Carol Comedy” that opened Friday at The District Theatre on Mass Ave. in downtown Indianapolis. The heartwarming, musical comedy adaptation of Charles Dickens’s immortal classic runs through Dec. 23.
A Christmas Carol Comedy – Courtesy of Tory Hudson. Used with permission.
Featuring a 40-member cast, Asaykwee’s clever reimagining of the holiday favorite is replete with modern references. The script is loosely based on “A Christmas Carol”, a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in 1843. Asayqwee’s zany version recounts the story of an aging miser Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. After their visits, Scrooge finds redemption as he is transformed into a kinder, gentler man.
It was surprising to see such a large cast gathered on The District stage that is situated in a relatively small space. Notable for its diversity and consisting of performers of all ages including a number of children —cast members also represented various levels of talent and experience. Inevitably, some performances were more substantial than others. Reminding me why TV commercials depicting children performing in school Christmas pageants are so popular, the children’s innocence and lack of inhibition went a long way in charming an audience that was clearly captivated. Under Asaykwee’s astute direction, the mix of professional performances with amateurish ones proved effective. My initial skepticism was swept away by the heart and sincerity projected by each cast member.
As far as the previously mentioned levels of talent, the show’s leads all turned in exemplary, multi-dimensional vocal and comedic performances. They included Matt Anderson as Scrooge, Maria Meschi as Jacob Marley, Shelbi Berry as Christmas Past, Tiffanie Bridges as Christmas Present and Hannah Boswell as Christmas Future. Though accents employed by the cast were scattered and uneven, many of the Cockney accents were authentic sounding.
Standing out for their engaging performances were Lisa Anderson as Mrs. Fezziwig, Noah Lee as Peter Cratchit, Michelle Wafford as Mrs. Cratchit, and Jeff Stafford as Bob Cratchit.
Devoid of sets, requiring audience members to use their imagination, the production features costumes that are spot on for their period accuracy and detail, Responsible is the costuming team consisting of Robyn Lamey, Ben Lamey, Hannah Boswell, Maria Meschi, Matt Anderson, and cast.
During my forty-five years of covering the performing arts I have seen innumerable productions of “A Christmas Carol.” However, I can state, unequivocally, that Asaykwee’s spoof on the timeless tale was one of the entertaining, if not one of the most touching I have experienced thus far.
Seated near Zach Siap, an eight-year-old boy, who is the grandson of friends Bob and Lessa Smith, I enjoyed hearing his squeals of delight throughout the show. Young Zach’s guileless response to the show, reinforced for me the power of the theatre to inspire magic and joy, especially during the holiday season. I predict the always intrepid Asaykwee’s lighthearted treatment of this universal tale will become Indy’s new offbeat annul holiday tradition so take advantage of this opportunity now to entertain your entire family and friends.
For tickets and information about “A Christmas Carol Comedy,” visit thedistricttheatre.org.
