A Christmas Carol

Louisville, Ky. (WHAS11)- What does an old man and haunting ghosts have to do with Christmas? Well if your name is Ebenezer Scrooge, it is the very thing that turns him from a humbug to the best Christmas keeper.

Last Thursday I stepped into the world of Scrooge and all of his ghostly friends at Actors Theatre. My reaction seemed to be the same as everyone else while entering the theater. Every direction I look, there is an excited and eager face to see one of the most famous Christmas plays ever performed.

The set is wintry and chilling. An old English town with snowy decor and minimal holiday decorations, even a bridge that is almost stage length, greets the incoming audience. A beautiful mural in the back of the set shows the snowy streets of London. The lights dim and the show begins.

The actual play was unlike any production of A Christmas Carol I had ever seen before. There were very interesting incorporations of characters and set including trick doors, moving mirrors, and even circus flying going on.

When asked how the director came up with the idea of circus flying Lauren Hirte, the ghost of Christmas past, explained how it all came together, "I have been doing circus arts for about 10 years now. I am from Chicago and the director really wanted acrobatics in the show this year. He originally asked a friend of mine to do it, but she was unable so I stepped in and have been really enjoying the experience."

Even though this is Actors Theatre's 36th year in presenting this classic tail, I was excited and delighted with modern twists in this production. I was not the only one.

"We loved it. We saw the production many years ago, and this year was very different. A lot of fun and heart warming.There was much more singing and dancing. It was engaging, modern, and fresh.," says audience members Steven and Janet McCabe.

Overall I would give this performance five out of five bells for its amazing special effects, seamless transitions, and modernizing of this beloved classic tale.