A Classic Christmas Tale that should be experienced over and over again
After a day of being in the cold I could think of no better way to end it than an evening seeing the fabulous Christmas Carol at the Dundee Rep! The Dundee Rep are known for their creative ways of approaching stories and A Christmas Carol was no different. A Christmas Carol is a classic story that has been presented in theatres many many times, however this particular showing made me feel like I was experiencing it for the first time. The story was brilliantly told in a unique way with amazing musical numbers, a powerful cast, perfectly timed comedy and a gorgeous set and lighting. The performance had such an innocence to it. It made you feel like a kid at Christmas and gave you the feeling of excitement, ultimately making me remember why Christmas can be a magical time for a lot of people.
The Dundee Rep really created a sense of originality to the classic tale, they approached this show in such a modern way whilst still ensuring they paid respect to the original story. Their modern approach of being immersive and making jokes about current people and situations, such as calling out the director for not letting them do a musical. The upbeat music choices made the whole show feel very modern as well. It really sold itself as this stylish enjoyable Christmas experience for everyone and the work paid off.
When first entering the theatre and seeing the set I thought it was unique, as sometimes Christmas shows go a little overboard with their sets but it proved effective and really beautiful. It gave this feeling of a beautiful old classic Christmas and it was amazing to watch it unravel throughout. I loved the aspect of actors coming out of the wings and engaging with the audience before the show started as it all added to this feeling of Christmas cheer and once the show started that feeling was never lost. The actors were so bright and welcoming and you could see through each and everyone that they loved what they did and had real talent. Even when interacting with the audience off the cuff, they proved to be quick witted and funny and they remained in the moment, overall giving us as an audience a more welcoming atmosphere and made me want to watch it even more.
GUEST REVIEWER: Lily Wells
An outstanding performance from beginning to end. A hugely witty interpretation whilst respecting the authentic story.
The cast were extremely talented in their ability to act, sing, play musical instruments and entertain. I can’t recommend it highly enough.