Milwaukee Rep’s beautiful ‘Christmas Carol’ shows how Scrooge got his groove back

At least one rapacious financier will have a change of heart this season, thanks to the Milwaukee Repertory Theater.

The Rep’s annual production of “A Christmas Carol,” which opened Friday evening at the Pabst Theater, shows us how Ebenezer Scrooge rediscovers his humanity, transforming from a miser who would put a family in debtors’ prison on Christmas Eve to a philanthropist who pours his wealth into a caroler’s kettle.

Charles Dickens’ novella is one of the best known stories in the English language, but there are many ways to retell it. The Rep’s staging of Mark Clements’ adaptation, which he also directs, is swift-moving and extroverted, with some interactive moments when the ghosts of Christmas Past (Tami Workentin) and Christmas Present (Todd Denning) turn to the audience for affirmation.

Scrooge’s sin in this production is that he has isolated himself from the community, relying on money to assauge his deep-rooted anxiety rather than the kindness of the mensches around him, including his clerk Bob Cratchit (Reese Madigan), his nephew Fred (Jordan Anthony Arredondo) and Fred’s wife Ellen (Elizabeth Martinié).

Returning as Scrooge, the long-limbed Matt Daniels is a master of the comic scowling, jumping and cowering that this role demands. I also enjoyed watching him react to the scenes of his past and present shown to him by the ghosts, imploring his younger self to make different decisions.

Everyone who loves this show will have their favorite scenes. Mine include:

• The startling appearance of Mark Corkins as the ghost of Jacob Marley, come to remonstrate with Scrooge. His sorrowful voice, punctuated by thunder when he senses Scrooge not listening, would have converted me on the spot.
• The physical return of the fragments of Scrooge’s memories at the end of Act 1 to batter his conscience one more time. This “Christmas Carol” frequently and effectively convicts Scrooge with his own words.
• The moving beauty of party guests at Fred and Ellen’s house singing a verse of “In the Bleak Midwinter.” It was dark, so no one could see the tear rolling down my cheek.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater recommends this production for people 6 and older; if a child can sit through a whole movie and isn’t frightened by an occasional loud noise, I think they’d do fine with this show.

It’s common to think of “A Christmas Carol” as a story with four specters, but the fifth and final spirit who shows up here, and sticks around, is the most powerful of all: the spirit of generosity.

If you go

Milwaukee Repertory Theater performs “A Christmas Carol” through Dec. 24 at the Pabst Theater, 144 E. Wells St. For tickets, visit milwaukeerep.com or call (414) 224-9490.

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