Long Beach Shakespeare Co. sings ‘A Christmas Carol’ across time

PHOTO by HENRY JOSEFSBERG

Say what you will about his prose, but Charles Dickens was an unqualified success in terms of creating art that inspired people to be better. Consider how a work like Oliver Twist influenced Victorian England to address its treatment of underprivileged children. Dickens was no Dostoyevsky, but his novels successfully held a mirror to society and reflected back an image too ugly to let be.

A Christmas Carol is not typically regarded in the same light, and yet it is here that Dickens’ simple, driving commandment—Be thou better—appears in its purest form. And with their current production, Long Beach Shakespeare Co. faithfully deliver this message, handled with care.

The show itself is solid through and through. Of particular note are sound cues (live and prerecorded) that come at you from all angles, along with the smoothness of blocking on what is often a very crowded stage. And in the lead role, Simon James deftly avoids making a cliché of a character that is almost one inherently.

If you’re completely unfamiliar with the plot of A Christmas Carol, then your English is probably inadequate to read this paper, so ingrained in our vernacular are “Tiny Tim,” “Scrooge,” “Bah! Humbug!” etc. Such familiarity can breed contempt—or at least indifference—so at first glance you might have no interest in seeing this play. But watch this well-worn tale and you may find yourself unexpectedly touched by this literal embodiment of an almost universally near and dear truth: we do not want to miss the opportunity for our lives to have joy and give joy to others. The thought of finding ourselves to have failed here where we easily might have succeeded is nightmarish. It’s this nightmare that confronts Scrooge. But by being so confronted, he gets a chance to mend before it is too late. A Christmas Carol is Dickens gifting us with such a confrontation. And even if you’re no Scrooge, you can be better. In a world where we are powerless over so much, apprehending that every moment is a chance to be better, to make a better future, is heartwarming—even for a cynic like you.

Which is good, because it gets cold during the show—fitting for a Christmas story, right?—so dress warmly. And the gods bless us, every one.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL LONG BEACH SHAKESPEARE CO. • 4321 ATLANTIC AVE (THE EXPO BUILDING) • LONG BEACH 90807 • 562.997.1994 • FRI 8PM, SAT 3&8PM, SUN 3PM $10-20 • THROUGH DECEMBER 20 • LBSHAKESPEARE.ORG

Tags: a christmas carol, charles dickens, long beach shakespeare co, Theater