Christmas Carol – A Fairy Tale at Wilton’s Music Hall London Review

Reviewed by Dee Ryz

‘A Christmas Carol’ is a well-known Christmas tale written by Charles Dickens in the mid-1800s, about Scrooge the miser who is called upon by 3 ghosts to change his ways. Having seen several different adaptations, I was told prior to the show that this wasn’t going to be any ordinary Christmas Carol play, so I was intrigued to see how this would differ from other productions – and I was not disappointed!

As detailed in our ‘Christmas Carol Songbook’, the programme distributed at the beginning of the play, designed as a 1/ shilling newspaper, instead of the story about Ebenezer Scrooge, award-winning and best-selling author Piers Torday has turned the focus of the play on its head, so that it follows the cold-hearted Fan ‘Scrooge’ Marley (Sally Dexter) – the sister of Ebenezer and wife of his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley – and has added in some modern and feminist themes.

Our narrator, Charles Dickens, aka Meagre the cat (puppeteer and voiced by Yana Penrose) weaves us through the tale, alongside Ignorance (Joseph Hardy) and Want (Chisara Agor). Having been left the business by her husband (Brendan Hooper) after his death, the familiar tale of the unfeeling and unhappy Scrooge who turns away charity and love is played out. On Christmas Eve, she is visited by her dead husband covered in chains, who warns her to change her ways otherwise she will end up like him. Then ensues visits from the three ghosts of Christmas, (Ruth Ollman, Edward Harrison, and Chisara Agor) who try to convince the difficult Fan of change through their different timelines, from difficult Christmases of the past, catapulting us right through to modern times (like, really modern 2019 times!).

But the age-old questions remains: will Scrooge change her ways? Without spoiling the show, which was at times laugh-out-loud funny, the story as you probably know it, is instantly recognisable but at times brilliantly different!

The small but robust cast play a variety of characters, aside from Sally Dexter who acts only Fan Scrooge, through a variety of weird and wonderful costumes – the Ghost of Christmas Present and Ghost of Christmas Future in particular, the first being a dressing robe clad wooden giant resting on cast member Edward Harrison’s shoulder, and the second being a bed sheet ghoul – both being very entertaining! The stage set itself was basic but through different and clever use of levels, lights, and decorations, it contained everything the cast needed to tell the story.

In regards to the overall setting, Wilton’s Music Hall is a beautiful historic theatre dating back to 1859, located in the East End of London. Restored and renovated several times over the years, this rustic space is a fabulous venue, easily accessed via public transport (DLR, underground and bus stops are all nearby), with plenty of pubs and restaurants in close proximity to accompany your night at the music hall.

Running until 4th January, I’d highly recommend adding this to your Christmas list – a funny, modern, heart-warming adaptation that is not to be missed!

Rating: 5/5

Tickets cost from £12.50 to £36 (booking fees may apply).

Christmas Carol – A Fairy Tale is at Wilton’s Music Hall in London from 29 November 2019 to 4 January 2020, for more information or to book tickets visit www.wiltons.org.uk or call the box office on 020 7702 2789.

Wilton’s Music Hall, Graces Alley, London, E1 8JB | 020 7702 2789