Review: 'A Christmas Carol' by NewArts

NEWTOWN, CT - NewArts is presenting A (Virtual) CHRISTMAS CAROL that is available for streaming online from December 23-27. A CHRISTMAS CAROL was fully-produced by NewArts in December of 2016 and 2017 and I was there for both of them. Because of the pandemic, this year’s production was entirely virtual. All of the performers, which included 30 local young people and nine Broadway professionals, were recorded in their separate homes. After that, the performances of two casts were put together for virtual audiences to enjoy at home.

I remembered that the NewArts production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL was originally created by a team that included six Tony Award-winners at the McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, NJ in 2000, and was directed by NewArts Producing Artistic Director, Michael Unger. The script was adapted by David Thompson (STEEL PIER, PRINCE OF BROADWAY) from the novella by Charles Dickens. Music and lyrics were written by Michael Starobin (two-time Tony Award-winning orchestrator) with charming sound effects by Brian Ronan (two-time Tony Award-winning Sound Designer.) I loved the bells ringing under the opening credits.

How appropriate it is that this wonderful virtual production features nine Broadway and Regional professionals who appeared in the original McCarter Theatre production. Once again I got to see Graeme Malcolm (EQUUS, AIDA) deliver his excellent performance as the skinflint Ebenezer Scrooge, and James Ludwig (LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS) reprise his wonderful rendition of Scrooge’s devoted nephew Fred; both of these actors appeared in the previous NewArts presentations of the show.

The additional professional performers, all of whom appeared with both casts, made the most of their supporting roles. Price Waldman gave a charming performance as Bob Cratchit. John Ahlin was the businessman David Stocks as well as the jolly Mr. Fezziwig, with Michele Tauber as a delightful Mrs. Fezziwig. Billy Finn played the role of the deceased Old Jacob Marley and the well-off Charlie Bonds.

Janet Metz (NewArts’ JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT) took on the role of Mrs. Cratchit. Annie O’Sullivan was a delightful Mrs. Dilber, Scrooge’s long-suffering chamber maid. My favorite supporting characters were the London solicitors, “Mary Bonds” and “Ida Stocks,” played to the hilt by Janet Metz and Michele Tauber respectively; I loved when these two spoke at the same time. Bargaining over Scrooge’s things were Michele Tauber as the laundress, James Ludwig as the undertaker and John Ahlin as Old Joe in another great scene. Ms. O’Sullivan also narrated the two acts, helping to give the production a bit of an old radio feel.

The 30 NewArts youth performers make up two casts, the Holly Cast and the Mistletoe Cast, each of which has their own streaming performance. I felt that it was important for me to watch the streams of both casts, just as I have always attended at least one performance of each NewArts cast in the past. Matiya Kouassi and Sophia Dossantos were the two ghosts showing Scrooge’s Christmases Past.

In the Mistletoe Cast, Marina Kolitsas was simply lovely in the role of Lily, Fred’s new wife, as well as Scrooge’s one-time fiance Belle. Benjamin Wismar-Berger was the abominable Tiny Tim and George Mecca played his older brother Peter. The latter also appeared as a school boy. Alaina Inzero and Maggie Murphy were adorable beggar children; the former also appeared as Boy Marley and the latter returned as Flora. Ethan Kravec was Boy Scrooge and Ava Baroody has somehow grown into the role of Fan. Mark Sadowski was Young Marley and Jimmy Hunter was Young Scrooge. Nicole Kolitsas was a riot as the Fezziwig eligible daughter Charlotte with both casts. Sabrina Spraggins was a joyful Ghost of Christmas Present. Gracelyn Mecca learned to make the pudding as Belinda Cratchit with Celia Plaue as her sister Martha. Camryn Story appeared as Emelia and Alaina delivered the prize turkey to the Cratchit home

In the Holly Cast, Rebecca Spalvieri played Lily as well as Belle, and Finn Swedrock was Tiny Tim. Alex Gilson was Peter Cratchit and Phoebe Swedrock and Camryn Story as the beggar children. Hayden Hughes and Riley Quinn played the role of Christmas Past #1 and #2. Phoebe Swedrock was Boy Marley, as well as the turkey delivery person. Alex Gilson was a school boy. Bennett Quinn was Boy Scrooge and Sarah Heinen was Fan. Mark Sadowski was Young Marley and Jimmy Hunter was Young Scrooge. Belinda was played by Violet Hughes and Martha was played by Meghan Bailey. Riley Quinn was Flora and Camryn Story was Emelia.

Both streams began with an achingly current Zoom carol performed by the cheerful young performers in the cast from their homes; Scrooge appeared through their midst. Two NewArts girls played the role of the Ghost of Christmas Past and even multiplied on the screen. The ensemble returned at the end to carol at the Cratchit house.

The arrangement of the performers changed for each scene and the recording was first rate. To my mind, Jacob Marley, was the character with the best entrance and exit in the first act. It was such a treat to see shots of the set pieces that were used in the 2017 and 2018 live productions that were designed by Ming Cho Lee, however briefly, at the appropriate time in the action. A recording of the Fezziwig dance scene from the live production was inserted and will bring back so many wonderful memories for anyone who enjoyed it in the theatre...and will impress anyone who did not. A game of Blind Man’s Bluff was somehow performed within the Zoom boxes; the lines sung by several actors were spliced together seamlessly.

A (Virtual) CHRISTMAS CAROL was directed, produced, and most impressively edited by Mr. Unger, who directed McCarter Theatre’s production for 16 years before introducing it to the Newtown area. Dr. Michael Baroody was once again the Executive Producer, Maryrose Kristopik, longtime music teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary School, served as the Music Director. Cheryl Mintz, who production stage managed the McCarter production, was the Associate Director; Alison Cote is the Production Stage Manager, both founders of princetonVIRTUAL.

Thank you to NewArts for another wonderful gift to the Newtown area and beyond!

This production is dedicated to the memory of Mary Socci, a 14-year-old frequent NewArts member. Mary lost a valiant battle to brain cancer on November 14th.

Proceeds from this benefit performance will go towards future NewArts productions. The virtual performances are offered at no cost, but there is a suggested donation to help support the non-profit organization.

Steaming performances will be available for unlimited viewing from Wednesday December 23rd at 7PM through Sunday December 27th at 7PM. These performances are offered free of charge, but there is a suggested donation of $15 for individuals and $30 for families. All proceeds go towards future NewArts programming. For more information and to make a donation, please visit: https://1214foundation.org/a-christmas-carol/.

The 1214 Foundation and NewArts will also be holding their first-ever virtual auction which will be live from December 20 through December 31! Featured are a wide variety of terrific products, experiences, and services from individuals, vendors, and companies located throughout Connecticut and beyond. Information is available on the website.

NewArts (www.newarts.org), was founded by Newtown parent, Michael Baroody, MD and theatre director, Michael Unger, in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary school tragedy. NewArts is the theatrical division of The 12.14 Foundation, and normally collaborates with teams of nearly 20 theatre professionals, including Broadway-level directors, performers, choreographers, music directors, designers, producers, and technicians, to guide local children in artistic endeavors celebrating collaboration, creativity and community. NewArts has presented twelve, large-scale musicals involving over 600 local youth onstage, backstage, and in the orchestra. Possibly my favorite show was their world-premiere production of A ROCKIN’ Midsummer Night’s Dream, which was featured in the award-winning documentary film, Midsummer in Newtown.

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Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions in a normal year and has reviewed NewArts shows since 2013. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.