Five time Tony Award winner and West End sensation, A Christmas Carol, is now playing at the Comedy Theatre in Melbourne. Written by Jack Thorn (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) and directed by Matthew Warchus (Matilda the Musical), this interpretation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a must-see. The production stars David Wenham as Scrooge, and features twelve Christmas carols and plenty of fun and immersive moments. It will continue to play throughout the festive season until December 29.
A Christmas Carol
This classic story follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a selfish and greedy old man that detests Christmas. After uncanny visits from Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come, Scrooge is changed into a better man.
This adaptation premiered at London’s The Old Vic in 2017, and has since become a Christmas staple. It opened on Broadway in 2019, and won five Tony Awards, including Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre.
This show is a good time no matter what, but if you’re looking to really get into the Christmas spirit, be sure to take your seats 15 minutes before the show starts. Then, you’ll be treated to pre-show festivities, with plenty of merry tunes, interactions with cast members, and free fruit and mince pies.
Once the show begins, you’ll be blown away by the spectacular staging and moving storytelling. Visually, the show is wonderful to behold, with glimmering lanterns and stunning effects. The live carols spaced out throughout the performance also help you embrace the holiday season, with familiar favourites like Joy to the World and O Holy Night.
This show is a rare opportunity to see David Wenham live on stage. Wenham is most known for his performance as Faramir in The Lord of the Rings, but has also performed in BAFTA-winning film Lion and Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis. As Scrooge, he absolutely nails the character arc with everything from his posture to his scowl. As the grumpy old ‘Bah hambug!’ man we’re all familiar with, Wenham is formidable. But, in glimpses of Scrooge’s past, and when Scrooge starts to redeem himself, Wenham transforms into someone delightful that we can all root for.
Perhaps the best part about this show is just how merrily chaotic it gets. Towards the end of the show, the audience is forced to join in on the fun. Not in the terrifying audience participation way, where one person gets singled out. But in a collective way where everyone needs to pitch in to help keep the scene moving. This moment of chaos is utterly hilarious, and also helps spread an uplifting message about supporting each other and the community.
A strong element of A Christmas Carol is its calls for compassion and social justice. In keeping with the themes of the play, the performance ends with a charity-bucket collection. In the UK, over £1 million was raised towards local good causes. This performance in Melbourne is no different. They’ve partnered with Foodbank Victoria to raise funds, so that they can provide food for vulnerable people across the country. It’s a touching way to end the show, and certainly stays with you long after the curtain falls.
If you’re looking for a good time, or you need some Christmas cheer, watching this play is probably the best thing you can do for yourself.