Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL Delights Edmonton

23 years after its Citadel Theatre debut, A Christmas Carol continues to enchant Edmontonians of all ages. David van Belle's joyous adaptation returns for a fourth season, treating audiences to a spectacular post-World War II re-imagining of Charles Dickens' 1843 novella. In this version, the ice-hearted Ebenezer Scrooge owns a glittering retail empire, where he berates his employees for tiny mistakes and even snaps at the in-store Santa Claus. However, on Christmas Eve night, Scrooge receives the fright of his life when his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley, and three other spirits warn him to change his spiteful ways.

This year, Citadel veteran John Ullyatt steps into the infamous miser's shoes. Ullyatt portrays Scrooge as a bitingly sarcastic pessimist exasperated with everyone and everything, especially Christmas. It is a delight to watch Scrooge's cold heart begin to thaw as he watches his young adult self (played by (Braydon Dowler-Coltman) revel in Yuletide festivities and dance along to a toe-tapping rendition of I Told Santa Claus to Bring Me You. Later, Scrooge's sadness is palpable as he observes his downtrodden employee, Mrs. Crachit (Alison MacDonald) attempt to fill her impoverished household with Christmas cheer.

Though the spirits' warnings are dire, the production still sparkles with plenty of festive joy. It is impossible not to smile as the cast and band perform upbeat holiday classics such as It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year and I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas. As the larger-than-life Ghost of Christmas Present, Sheldon Elter leads the upbeat showstopper, It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, while gift-laden ensemble members join in and Scrooge watches open-mouthed. The tight-knit Cratchit family is heartwarming to watch, especially as they share a humble Christmas lunch and nurture the vulnerable Tiny Tim (Elias Martin).

Whether it is your first or fourth time enjoying this dazzling production, there are countless things to love about it. From the fantastic performances by the 35-person cast to the energetic band to Cory Sincennes' often intricate 1940s costumes, A Christmas Carol is a delight from start to finish.

As the Ghost of Christmas Present would say: "It's even more Christmas than festive socks!"

A Christmas Carol lights up Edmonton's Citadel Theatre until December 23.

Photo Credit: Nanc Price for the Citadel Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol by David van Belle (2022), featuring (from left to right) John Ullyatt and Sheldon Elter.