A Christmas Carol – As Told by Jacob Marley (Deceased) at Upstairs at the Gatehouse Review
Written by Cathie for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
The first line of A Christmas Carol demands the reader to remember that Jacob Marley was dead, or the rest of the story would not have its legendary depth. James Hyland has created a phenomenal adaptation of this story from the point of view of said ghost Jacob Marley. Doomed by his selfish actions in life, he is now bound to repeat the tale every Christmas Eve into eternity.
James Hyland directs, produces and acts out this one man show. It is a beautiful adaptation that has been excellently researched. This is a close resemblance to the one man readings that Dickens would perform of this book in later years. Therefore this adaptation is probably the closest to experiencing the telling of this tale as Dickens would have wanted it in this modern era. Every character is precisely orchestrated with nuanced body language and change in tone, leaving you in no doubt who is being played at each point. Hyland’s acting is completely captivating and held us all in awe. This is a good show to introduce your family to Dickens’ classic Christmas tale, however one young child became so scared she dropped her water bottle so this is perhaps one for children aged 8 and above.
We are confronted by the desperation felt by so many in Victorian London with the highs and lows humanity can find on Christmas Day. This is a very faithful adaptation which includes the key characters and majority of the plot but leaves a few minor scenes out of the show. This doesn’t impact the plot and improves the pace and steadiness of this retelling. The show is 75 minutes long, but the pace is fast and powerful thoroughout, building to the final crescendo in an impressive performance.
Hylands’ costuming, designed by Nicki Martin-Harper and altered by Melrose McFarlane, is simple but very effective. A decaying Victorian suit with grey underlinens and a heavy chain and money bags wrap around Hyland’s figure as he groans in agony to be released from their weight, even for only a short time. The sound composition by Chris Warner works well with Hyland’s performance to add a paranormal chill to the air. The set is bare, aside from a simple wooden chair and a single key which will unlock Marley from his prison only as long as he retells this perilous warning.
Hyland is a genius with adapting classic literature to the stage in one-man adaptations. If you wish to see a chilling adaption that holds the bite of Dickens’ work, the chill of the paranormal and an amazing performance, then this is the show for you.
★★★★★