Reader Reviews
A Christmas Carol (West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Thought it was very good. The children in the audience were particularly impressed by the spookiness and we all rooted for Scrooge (an excellent performance). The sets and lighting were wonderful and even the music (not a strength of WYP productions, I fear) was fine. All in all, uplifting and it brought a smile to my face. Well done! - Josephine Hamblett | 08 Jan 11 |
| Everything about this production is outstanding.The adaptor and director have retained the essence of Dickens' masterpiece, and at the same time have added skilful creative interpretation.The acting, dancing, singing, lighting, staging and costumes are all of exceptionally high quality. - MRS J M PUNTON | 17 Dec 10 |
| The cast gave it much energy, but were let down by the poor writing. This is a most misguided adpatation in my view. Dialogue is cut and pasted from Dickens with little regard to preserving the subtle detailing of the book. Agree with above reviewers that there is no intelligible story arc for newcomers to grasp, and that the horror side is pushed too far. Songs? The opening number is a dismal rip-off of The Ballad of Sweeney Todd, and as for the irritating number about stuffing the bird... Pointless padding. Unmemorable melodies, clunky lyrics ("Chestnuts glossy, mossy and brown" Mossy??), too much turgid underscore obscuring the dialogue. As I say, the cast (and musicians) gave it their best, and the set and costumes were impressive, but this version shouldn't really have got off the page without some proper rewriting. - Kevin James | 28 Nov 10 |
| Enjoyed the production but it seemed to be trying to incorporate some of "Les Miserables" into Dickens story. I thought the Thenadiers had wandered in at one point and were about to burst into a rendition of "Master of the House". However Scrooge was impressive and the finale was very enjoyable. - Rita Cooper | 26 Nov 10 |
| Saw this in Leeds on November 25th also. Was disappointed by it. Indeed, I felt is was anything by Humorous, lively and warm-hearted. The music was uninspired and uninspiring, lyrically clunky, and certainly not memorable. As for the rest of the production, it was generally over-acted, grating, and the narrative arc was almost unintelligible. Certainly NOT recommended for new-comers to Dickens. - Larry, Leeds. | 26 Nov 10 |
| Saw this at the Birmingham Rep last Christmas and after seeing both the REP's and the WYP's christmas shows in Birmingham (The Wizard of Oz and Peter Pan being my favourite) I have to say, I was hugely dissappointed with A Christmas Carol. Maybe it's just me but I hated the whole idea of looking at the ghostly side of the story, hence making the production too dark, depressing and it didn't even feel like family/christmas entertainment and after seeing Oliver! in the West End and Scrooge with Tommy Steele (which is MUCH better than this!) it didn't even feel like Dickens! I can't argue that Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol as a "ghost story" but still, there are only 4 ghosts in the story. This production however has the whole cast (execpt Scrooge) as ghosts which is honestly just unnecessary! Everyone, including the children had pale faces and dark eyes! Hardly any colour in the set or coustumnes - even looking at a plain boring grey scrim when you enter the auditorium made you worry! Like I said before, if you want see be entertained this Christmas, go see a panto or track down where Tommy Steele is on the Scrooge tour! Please Birmingham Rep, when the theatre re-opens in 2013 please bring back Rachel Kavanaugh and her team to do the Christmas shows as The Wizard of Oz and Peter Pan were just incredible! This however.... DISAPPOINTING! - James | 05 Sep 10 |
