A Christmas Carol - As Told By Jacob Marley (Deceased)

Synopsis

Jacob Marley is dead and condemned to an eternity of carrying a heavy chain, forged in life; a life to which he can no longer return except to recount the tale of his miserly business partner, Ebenezer Scrooge, and the path that lead to his redemption. Through Marley's words, we learn how three magical spirits opened Scrooge's eyes and made him realise the true value of love and forgiveness. Told from the perspective of Scrooge's deceased business partner, this critically acclaimed theatrical adaptation promises thrills, chills and excitement aplenty for all ages.

Our Review:

14 December 2010

In the flood of productions of A Christmas Carol the version at Harrogate Theatre’s Studio has a unique selling point, as expressed in the sub-title, “As told by Jacob Marley (Deceased)”. In this one-man show with only a chair as furniture or prop actor/writer/director James Hyland bursts through the stage drapes dramatically festooned in chains, red-eyed and chalky-faced, and proceeds to tell the story.

Hyland claims that his version of the story highlights Dickens’ themes by comparing “Marley’s temporary liberation from his chains” with “Scrooge’s full reclamation of spirit”, but no such comparison takes place. Marley rather melodramatically and with difficulty rids himself of the chains – a necessary act given the energetic story-telling to come – and, at the end, after finishing in Dickens’ own words, he resumes the chains, asks us to remember him and wishes us a Merry Christmas – not...

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