Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol not only gave us the wonderful word ‘scrooge’ but also our ideal of a traditional Victorian Christmas. So what better holiday treat than Horla Theatre Company’s adaptation of the story at Trafalgar Studios? Sadly, a show that impressed on its first outing in 2005 is now sporting a limp as noticeable as Tiny Tim's. Horla's production promises a darkly faithful take on Dickens and starts well, with Tracy Waller’s simple set creating an atmosphere of foreboding. “Selfish, self-contained, secretive, solitary,” chant the ensemble cast as the shadowy of Scrooge looms large.
What follows, however, falls disappointingly flat. Pacing is the main issue. Dickens loved creative padding but Joanna Volinska’s adaptation feels at least 40 minutes too long, with Alistair Green's drawn out staging puncturing all mystery and moral momentum. Attention to detail is also sporadic. Modern labels stick out of ‘period’ clothing and some scenes are overladen with props, others inexplicably lacking.
Jonathan Langford and Carole Carpenter’s festive score lends charm and there are some spirited performances from a hardworking cast, with Martin Hearn’s Mr Fezziwig a real joy. However, Ebenezer (David Roberts) is never miserly enough to make his transformation the Christmas miracle it should be. At the risk of sounding a scrooge, save your pennies for Horla's infinitely superior Grimms shows.
