Much of Charles Dickens’ writing is concerned with making good and rags to riches success and so it is with Talkwood’s A Christmas Carol, which has been transposed from its humble beginnings in Chorleywood Memorial Hall in 2010 to London’s Charing Cross Theatre. Although a modest 275-seater auditorium, the uptown venue allowed the Hertfordshire-based company scope to raise the bar on production values on the set, music and special effects.

The timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge from embittered skinflint to kindly philanthropist is greatly augmented by the songs written by Jessica Rufey with music by her brother Patrick in this well-executed musical version of Dickens’ festive classic. The repertoire really gives the cast a vocal workout with soaring numbers such as Share A Lifetime, In A Year Or So and The Man I Mean To Be, jolly ditties including The Fezziwig Jig and Christmas Morning, along with the more brooding A Life Of Regret and Everyone Happy But Me.

Director Joshua Sills has wisely retained original members Stephen Emery as Scrooge and Pedro Gardiner reprises his jovial role as the Ghost of Christmas Present and Mr Fezziwig. Of the newer recruits, Daniel Haslam as Young Scrooge, and Amanda K Hootman as his fiancée Belle top the billing for professionalism and poise, while Gary Jerry and Natalie Neagle give truly warm and convincing performances as Mr and Mrs Cratchit along with Alexandra Caine and Anya Evans as their two daughters and Ben Salter as Tiny Tim. The way they gel together on stage as a close-knit family really deserves special mention.

It is a brighter, bolder show with a lot of well-observed touches that stay true to the story and quite a few chilling surprises in store.
If it’s not plunging deeper into the heart of the West End and playing to sold-out houses this time next year, then I’m the Ghost of Christmas Past.
 

Until January 4 at Charing Cross Theatre with a special Christmas Eve performance is at Watford Colosseum on December 24.