Seacoast Rep's 'Christmas Carol' a Holiday Delight [VIDEO]

Charles Dickens' holiday classic, "A Christmas Carol," is as synomous with the holiday season as Christmas trees, Yuletide carols and presents and it is often very hard to breathe new life into a story and characters so many are so familiar with.

But the 's musical version of "Christmas Carol" manages to retell the story of Ebenezer Scrooge's redemption from being a stingy, odious miser to a Christmas champion in a very entertaining and fun way without departing from Dickens.

With Bill Humphreys as Scrooge, director Craig Faulkner and the rest of the cast deliver a stunning version of this story that goes beyond the usual Victorian-era costumes, dialogue and scenic transitions. 

The choreography provided by Brian Swasey combined with the musical score by music director William Asher transport the audience to 1860 London with the narrator played by Billy Butler as their guide. It was refreshing to hear the words of Dickens set each scene as presented by Butler's narrator.

The audience was also treated to many traditional English Christmas carols and dances performed by the cast throughout the play and each of the three spirits, the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, along with Jacob Marley (played by Chris Bradley) were very well done.

In any production of Christmas Carol, the greatest challenge for the actor who plays Scrooge is to be two people: the miser we disdain and then the loveable uncle who knows how to keep Christmas in his heart throughout the year. Humphreys' Scrooge achieves both of these personas effortlessly to the point where the audience does rejoice upon seeing his change of heart by the time he awakes in his chamber after his time with the Ghost of Christmas Future.

With a touch of good humor, the great storytelling from Dickens, vibrant songs and dancing (and even some snow when the cast does its final curtain call on stage), the Seacoast Repertory Theatre's "Christmas Carol" delivers loads of holiday cheer sure to soften even most cynical Scrooges with whom Christmas has fallen out of favor.

The musical will continue to be performed at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre through Dec. 24 and it is well worth it.  One thing about "A Christmas Carol" that never gets old is the message uttered by Tiny Tim, "God bless us all, everyone."