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Click here to watch a video from Shaw about A Christmas Carol. It includes interviews with our artistic director, John Innes (Scrooge) as well as a few moments from the play.

Chemainus's Christmas Carol catches tale's humanity
By Lexi Bainas, The Citizen November 17, 2010

"Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that."

We were never in doubt, but Charles Dickens himself gave us the scoop from centre stage as the Chemainus Theatre's presentation of his immortal holiday tale, A Christmas Carol, opened last week.

Secure in the knowledge that all was well, we settled back, like children all snug in our beds, ready to hear a beloved story.

Director Mark DuMez said it right in his program notes: A Christmas Carol has stood the test of time. He went on to list some of his favourite reasons, and every audience member will bring others as they immerse themselves once more in this classic.

But the reason a story retains its popularity for a century and a half is that there's something about it that touches our daily lives.

This telling of the story of Ebeneezer Scrooge, adapted from Dickens's story by DuMez's friend, the late Jeremy Tow, focuses on the humanity of the story.

That was in Dickens's mind, too, when he wrote it.

He luckily picked a time when the English public was ready to move slightly from their practice of marking Christmas in a serious manner towards an emphasis on festivity and joy.

The writer chose his details well and this adaptation follows them. Everything we love is there. Despite the small size of the stage, we know we're in teeming Victorian London. We can feel the warmth of old Fezziwig's Christmas party, smell the Cratchits' plum pudding, even feel the chill of Scrooge's own dank and loveless dwelling.

All three of the Christmas ghosts are there, too, but their appearance provides a surprise among the familiar faces.

The story of the Christmas Carol unfolds as it should, charmingly interwoven with seasonal music, and Tiny Tim's blessing urges everyone to remember how lucky we are.

Call the box office at 1-800-565-7738 to reserve your seats now for this family classic.

And while you're at it, ask about reserving a table at the Playbill dining room. Their Christmas Carol spread includes carveries of ham and lamb plus turkey, steak and mushrooms, salmon, wonderful vegetables and salads.

And, in addition to their legendary dessert table, this season's offering includes a chocolate fountain.

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