A Christmas Carol

By Charlene Baldridge | Theater Critic

Those who prefer their “Christmas Carol” straight up should know that a traditional telling of Charles Dickens’ work opened December 7 at Cygnet’s Theatre in Old Town, where it continues through December 24. This provides extreme contrast to the in-drag sendup, “Scrooge in Rouge” (through December 29 at Diversionary Theatre).

You may take the nieces and nephews and others to this “WCGY Playhouse of the Air Presents A Christmas Carol,” adapted and directed by Cygnet’s Artistic Director Sean Murray with an original score by Billy Thompson. In its second year of production, the “radio play,” in which the audience becomes a studio audience in 1944 Manhattan, is more musical and affecting than before.

Composer Thompson interweaves the Murray-adapted text with carols, and Murray writes new, fetching lyrics appropriate to the familiar story and characters.

Once again, extraordinary San Diego actor Tom Stephenson, who’s played the role numerous times thither and yon, portrays the emotionally shriveled Scrooge, whose miserly life is punctuated by nastiness and bowls of thin gruel, that is, until he is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Stephenson’s newly conceived performance is differently imbued, exacting and replete with subtle hints that even at the worst of times, and even before he’s reminded of it, Scrooge has known, and has been a better man. Stephenson’s mumbled, almost trancelike voyager gives way to redemption in exceptionally joyous fashion. The production is rife with humor and good will.

A trio forged in heaven last year, Maggie Carney, Melissa Fernandes and Melinda Gilb are even funnier, more versatile and crisp as they morph from radio personalities into scenes where they portray Scrooge’s young love, his sister, his sister-in-law, his housekeeper, Ghost(s) of Christmas Past, and even Tiny Tim. They sing together divinely and, in memory’s eye, seem to have been attired in Victorian costumes rather than the 1944 peplums and seamed hose they actually wear.

Patrick McBride, who made his Cygnet debut as James Joyce in “Travesties,” at first seems bland in his radio-show persona, but he limns each of his characters expertly — Bob Cratchit, Scrooge’s nephew Fred and Marley.

With his mellifluous singing and speaking voices, the exceptionally musical David McBean is the force that forges the ensemble singing. Sean LaPerruque portrays Stanley Church, the radio studio pianist. Brian Mackey is the sound effects guy, and Jonathan Dunn-Rankin, the announcer and narrator of the familiar tale.

Murray has tightened the script, and the production clocks in at 90 minutes including intermission. Shirley Pierson is costume designer; R. Craig Wolf, lighting designer; Matt Lescault-Wood, sound designer, Peter Herman, the wig and make up designer, and Angelica Ynfante, the props designer.

One of the funniest lines on opening night was unscripted and delivered by Maggie Carney. In her radio show performer persona, she was warming up the audience during the pre-show, when she suddenly turned and saw Murray at her elbow, dressed in his 2013 Christmas sweater and about to deliver pre-show announcements regarding cellphones and exits. Carney surveyed the director, took a step back, and asked, “Are you from the future?” Murray, surprised for only a moment, said, “Yes, I guess I am from the future.”

A Londoner who was raised in straitened circumstances, Charles Dickens (1812—1870) wrote “A Christmas Carol – a Ghost Story of Christmas” in 1843. An immediate success, the book was dramatized almost immediately. Scrooge has become synonymous with greed, avarice and tightfistedness, and has informed many other literary characters, including Dr. Seuss’s Grinch, whose show, currently in its 16^el year, holds sway at The Old Globe.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Saturdays and 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays through December 24 (including 2 and 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23 and closing performance, 2 p.m. Christmas Eve)

WHERE: Cygnet Theatre, 4040 Twiggs Street, Old Town San Diego

TICKETS: $36—$49

INFORMACIÓN: cygnetteatro.com or 619-337-1525