Theatre Tours International in association with Maverick Theatre Company brings a captivating solo performance by Guy Masterson of A Christmas Carol to The Ustinov Studio.
Adapted with huge care and attention by Nick Hennegan, Masterson brings to life a myriad of characters and follows the gruelling nightmares of Scrooge as he is visited by the Ghost of Marley, Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Future.
The pace is good, the open stage with single chair and coat is enough to evoke each moment of Scrooge’s journey coupled with atmospheric lighting.
The original music by Robb Williams supports the text well and director Nick Hennegan has ensured the script keeps all on task; from the general observers to those revising for upcoming GCSEs.
This is a strong and unsurprisingly good production, given the many awards and plaudits that Masterson has collected over the years.
Whilst we may be at the end of the festive season, there is always time to consider this excellent story.
The happy young man who turns to wealth and work forsaking those who love him or care for him.
His miserly behaviour is legendary but the reality is that even now it is easy to see how tempting it is to overlook the essentials in life; those of family, friends and personal happiness.
Whilst Scrooge is as “solitary as an oyster” this production allowed us to uncover the pearl at his core alongside the sheer poetry and epic imagery of the original novel.
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Reviewer: Petra Schofield
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens was adapted by Nick Hennegan and performed at the Ustinov Studio in Bath on 3rd and 4th January 2020.
