Review: A Christmas Carol at the Lowry is ‘a spectacular feast of song and celebration’

It would not be Christmas without the most classical of Charles Dickens’ stories, brought to the Lowry by Alan Menken (Disney’s Beauty And The Beast, The Little Mermaid and Newsies and Little Shop Of Horrors) and Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime, Seussical, Once On This Island).

A Christmas Carol, the Musical, is obviously based on Dickens’ homonymous novella, but with a little twist. Ebenezer Scrooge is now Emelina Scrooge, played by the brilliant Claire Moore.

A Christmas Carol at the Lowry

The classic Dickens story, curated by Hope Mill Theatre, follows her misadventures, as she undergoes a transformative journey on Christmas Eve thanks to the three ghosts representing the Past, Present, and Future.

The first act, where the whole cast is introduced, is a feast for the eyes and immediately brings the most joyous and immersive Christmas experience with the musical number ‘A jolly good time”.

The musical opens at the Royal Exchange, where all Londoners are excited for the Christmas holidays ahead.

Claire Moore as Evelina Scrooge

The vibe, however, immediately changes when Evelina Scrooge enters the stage: darker lights, opposed to the warm and welcoming setting that had opened the play, set the tone to her tragic story and character.

Scrooge is a grumpy old woman, very proud but also jealous of her wealth, that she refuses to share with those in need. She also hates Christmas, and every year she spends this day alone, refusing her nephew’s invite to join his family.

We also get to know her loyal clerk Bob Cratchit (Matthew Jeans), who is trying to save some money to ensure his gravely ill son Tim gets the best of the Christmas celebrations. 

The ghost of Marley

Introduced by what is one of the most brilliant dancing acts of the entire show, led by the ghost of Marley (Barry Keenah), Scrooge’s now deceased business partner, the three ghosts are finally announced, and we get straight to the heart of the story.

At exactly 1am, the ghost of Christmas Past (Mary McGinlay) visits Emelina Scrooge. From this moment onwards, the musical puts the Christmas celebrations aside and predominantly focuses on Scrooge’s past.

Both the ghosts of Christmas Past and Christmas Present (James Hume) are flamboyant characters that seem to have a lot to say, but not enough time.

Their stage presence is amazing, despite a peculiar choice of costumes and dance pieces that might feel a bit anachronistic. On the other hand, poor Emelina is almost outstaged by those larger than life characters, and by the end of her experience with the ghost of Christmas Present the audience has not learned enough about her to really sympathise with her personal story.

Interestingly enough, we do not hear a word from the ghost of Christmas Future (Josie Benson). This character is completely silent, relegated to a shorter dance piece with several other performers, and their time with Scrooge feels rushed just to finally lead to her redemption. Unfortunately, her change of heart is too sudden and one is left eager to learn more about her inner turmoil and realisation – for example, we never learned enough about her family to feel any relief when Emelina decides to spend Christmas with her nephew.

“A cast of brilliant performers”

Despite feeling a bit rushed in some cases, and the character of Emelina Scrooge almost struggling in a couple of instances to stand out in a cast made of brilliant performers, A Christmas Carol does not fail to bring the magic of Christmas.

The wholesome ending, the final musical pieces, and the dynamic and colourful staging, are the perfect ingredients for a successful recipe, that will amaze both children and adults and maybe even sprinkle some extra Christmas spirits on our inner, grumpy Scrooges.

Tickets for A Christmas Carol at the Lowry

A Christmas Carol is on at the Lowry from Tuesday 17th December to Sunday January 5th and you can buy tickets by clicking here