Larry Yando is Ebenezer Scrooge for 15th year
Photo: Kareem Bandealy (Jacob Marley) and Larry Yando (Ebenezer Scrooge) in A Christmas Carol-Photo Credit/Liz Lauren for Goodman Theatre
By Dwight Casimere
Goodman Theatre’s timeless production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is on the Albert stage for the 45th year. Performances continue through New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31. For information, visit GoodmanTheatre.org.
Returning for his 15th year as the irascible curmudgeon, Larry Yando brings a special edge to the part. He lends contrasting moods of deep discomfort at the enforced frivolity of the holiday season. In this year’s opening scenes, he added a somewhat darker tone in order to emphasize his aversion to all things merry. This nicely set up the contrast to his later reformation as a self-aware, kind-hearted soul.
Thomas J. Cox returns to Goodman for his fourth season of A Christmas Carol, lending his endearing ineptitude to the role of Cratchit.
The story is all too familiar, but in the skilled hands of Director Jessica Thebus, in this adaptation by Tom Creamer, the themes are presented in a fresh light that renders this year’s production as bright and shiny as a newly minted silver coin.
Nearly two million theatregoers have experienced this Chicago holiday tradition. No season would be complete without a visit to the Goodman to savor this delightful yuletide treat.
Dazzling sets by Todd Rosenthal, costume design by Heidi Sue McMath, lighting by Keith Parham and Sound Design by Richard Woodbury meld seamlessly in this enthralling production.
Music by Andrew Hansen with a captivating on stage crew of Justin Amoisch and Delin Ruhl and Malcom Ruhl and joyous choreography by Tommy Rapley, all add to the sum total of this perfectly balanced equation.
Kareem Bandealy is masterfully droll as the ghost of Jacob Marley, complete with appropriately eerie special effects by the lighting and sound team and flying effects by ZFX Inc.
Standout performances from Bethany Thomas as the exuberant Ghost of Christmas Present, Cindy Gold as Mrs. Maud Fezziwig and Susaan Jamshidi as Mrs. Cratchit, make this 45th production a joy to behold.