SAN DIEGO — We’ve all seen variations of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol many times in stage plays, films and musicals. His iconic character, Ebenezer Scrooge with his catchphrase, “Bah Humbug” is so well known that I doubt many Israelis name their children “Ebenezer” except for some ultra-orthodox sects who avoid all things Krastmik along with the rest of the goyishe velt. So what can you do to put a new twist on this classic tale? Set it in sunny San Diego, California.
In 1919, San Diego was a young boomtown with lots of opportunity for growth, but not much of an arts scene. With many local references and a few anachronisms, writers Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen endeavor to make Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big San Diego Christmas Show our story.
“A friend is merely an enemy you haven’t known long enough.”
Robert Joy is classic Scrooge, an embittered old curmudgeon who is so tight-fisted he likens paid time off to having his pocket picked. In the tradition of “anarchic story theatre” the ensemble are a swirl of activity, narrating the story and portraying all of the other characters. Vocal and costume changes give us the ghosts, the Cratchits, Fezziwig, lost loves… and many others.
“If you truly see the past, it can change the present.”
Cathryn Wake and Jacque Wilke are fun to watch as the ghosts of Christmas Past and Present, rattling off witty one-liners. Orville Mendoza delivers a surprising comic range from the nebbishy shlemazel, Bob Cratchit, the vociferous Jacob Marley and the ebullient Mr. Fezzi. Dan Rosales was endearing as Fred and Young Scrooge, but his real laughs came as Tiny Tim.
Hats off to Director Gordon Greenberg for pulling together a tight ensemble of actors and designers. Costumes by David Israel Reynoso were just enough for the many characters changes the actors had to make in a hurry. The scenic design by Adam Koch had enough period elements to transport us, yet fluid enough for the continuous shifts in time and space and still pull a few surprises.
Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big San Diego Christmas Show is an enjoyable holiday treat. But maybe it’s a little too sweet. Tiny Tim gets so many laughs that we forget he’s a frail child who is dying. And for all of their local references, I feel that they missed an opportunity to really bring it home. The most exploited workers of our day are the undocumented immigrants whose pay is below minimum with no health benefits and no recourse if they get sick or hurt. Yet the exploiters of this labor are never the ones dragged into court. We already know Dickens’ tale. The stories of today’s Scrooges and Cratchits are the ones we need to hear now if our society is to ever wake up and seek redemption.
Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big San Diego Christmas Show is playing at the Old Globe’s Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre through Dec 29, 2019.
And that’s showbiz!
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Eric George Tauber is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. He may be contacted via eric.tauber@sdjewishworld.com
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