Holiday Theater in Old Town

Little Theatre of Alexandria Has Fun With 'Christmas Carol' Parody

Little Theatre of Alexandria Has Fun With 'Christmas Carol' Parody

Old Town's Little Theatre offers a fun ride in "Mrs. Bob Crachit's Wild Christmas Binge"

Old Town's Little Theatre offers a new twist on the traditional Christmas Carol performance.

English author Charles Dickens wrote the feel-good novella "A Christmas Carol" that arts lovers have been enjoying for years on the page, film and stage. Alexandria's Little Theatre takes it a few steps further in Christopher Durang's hilarious parody "Mrs. Bob Crachit's Wild Christmas Binge."

The play offers a twist on the classic by drilling into pressing issues such as whether Scrooge's transformation can really cure the mysterious illness killing Tiny Tim, just why is Bob Cratchit always late for work and what do those charities really do with our money?

Dickens's tale is turned on its head by this feisty Christmas offering. The play shines a spotlight on the previously obscure Mrs. Bob Cratchit that begs our attention. There isn't any virtue in suffering, according to Gladys Cratchit in this production. She's no straight-laced Victorian. She's a modern, stressed-out mom who wants out of repressive society.

The production, which is directed by Liz Owens, teems with great lines from other Christmas tales such as "The Gift of the Magi," "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Touched by an Angel."

The inclusion of these inside jokes and jabs delivered on cue is absolutely essential in making this Christmas farce work.  Timing left some pregnant pauses in the dialogue which were problematic, but uproarious when you finally realized where they were taking you.

Maria Simpkins, a budding young local talent, takes us on a not- so-magical journey into the past, present and future by playing all three ghost characters. She's the Ghost of Everything.  She does an admirable job convincing us of her zeal to reform Scrooge, and her pain as she is frustrated in her efforts time and again.

James Senavitis and Aimee Meher-Hamji play the Cratchits. Eliza Malakoff plays Little Nell, Kathleen Lovain, Julian Worth are two of the other Cratchit kids. Tiny Tim is played by the indomitable Peter Johnson who is a shining light and a laughable sprite on stage. Steve Izant is the Ebenezer Scrooge whose lesson to be a more charitable person is continually thwarted by the incompetent ghost of past, present and future along with the helping hand of Mrs. Cratchit. She truly has more in common with Mr. Scrooge than Bob Crachit. Tourette's Syndrome explains Scrooge's famous "Bah Humbug!"

The Little Theatre has put a tremendous effort into the staging and lighting. Costuming by Margaret Snow and Annie Vroom was splendid. The simple set made scene changes seamless.

The Little Theatre takes us on this wacky, twisted ride and lifts drooping, Christmas spirits with a curve ball.  Said one theatre goer, "It was amazing."

It's a 9:30 p.m. production running through Dec. 18 at the Little Theatre, 600 Wolfe St.