Photograph by John Garfield-Roberts

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Mark Smith, Lewis Bray.

A Christmas Carol is almost akin to staple fare at this time of year. From the television adaptations to big budget films to the outlandish theatrical spectacles, Charles Dickens’ most famous creation, the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge has spent so much time being dissected and discussed that it is always a constant surprise if anyone can get anything more out of it.

However, if any theatre can do the impossible then trust Spike Theatre to not only to do the job well but to do it in such a manner that it will blow most other adaptations away! The Company take it away from the overblown and almost ugly grandiose affairs and bring it back to the intimate and stifling that accentuates the overpowering sense of the macabre that features so heavily in the novella.

The space at the Lantern Theatre perfectly suits this type of theatre and conversely Spike Theatre suiting the Lantern Theatre. With the story condensed down to an hour, there is much onus on the two actors, the excellent Mark Smith and the enjoyable Lewis Bray, to show that A Christmas Carol can be produced with the barest amount of fuss and the two actors fashioned a show of quiet brilliance.

With Mark Smith playing the old miser throughout, the staring contemptible looks and genuine touch of Victorian fear that makes the Scrooge such a despicable fellow are captured with such remarkable ease. Known more for his work as a man whose humour goes before him, it was a wonderful and sumptuous joy to see this very good actor take on a heavy weight part and portray that role with incredible style.

Lewis Bray was also on fine form as he portrayed every other character imaginable with a great sense of fun and suggestive nods that only Spike Theatre can bring to the stage.

A Christmas Carol is a special piece of theatre and when done as well as this particular production it justifies its status as one the U.K.’s favourite stories.

Ian D. Hall