Victorian England and Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) are together at last with Bah! Humbug! This show combines 20 musical numbers from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with a stellar cast including Jay Brazeau, Margo Kane, and Jim Byrnes.
Repurposed into a tale where Scrooge owns a pawn shop on Hastings Street, this imaginative all-ages production offers a bittersweet twist on a cherished classic that celebrates the transformative power of human redemption. A tale that’s over 150 years old, Dickens’ timeless story remains relevant today, especially in light of parallels between the economic disparities of Victorian London and Vancouver’s DTES.
Bah! Humbug! will run for two performances on December 15th only, at SFU’s Goldcorp Centre for the Arts.
“Each year, the adaptation has different creative twists and turns as we continue to highlight vital issues affecting the DTES. Taking inspiration from Dickens, we’re proud to work in partnership with Vancouver Moving Theatre to benefit the development of a dynamic cultural program in our own community” says Michael Boucher, Director, Cultural Programs & Partnerships, SFU Woodward’s Cultural Programs.
Commissioned and co-produced by SFU Woodward’s Cultural Programs in partnership with Vancouver Moving Theatre, Bah! Humbug! benefits the Vancouver Community Arts Council, Vancouver’s Eastside, and the Heart of the City Festival.
Bah! Humbug! is directed by Max Reimer and stars award-winning actor Jay Brazeau as Ebenezer Scrooge, First Nations actor Margo Kane as the narrator, Juno-award winning musician and actor Jim Byrnes as Jacob Marley, and gospel and blues singer/actor Tom Pickett as Bob Cratchit. These Vancouver favourites will be joined by a cast of professional and DTES community actors. Musical performances are diverse and include pop, folk, blues, gospel and industrial music styles along with traditional seasonal favourites.
“Our adaptation attempts to reflect Dickens’ sharp social commentary, without losing its warmth, while adding a local twist”, according to Terry Hunter, Executive Director of Vancouver Moving Theatre. This year’s show will include an audience sing-a-long, seasonal refreshments, and an organic turkey draw at each performance, sponsored by Save-on-Meats. This will definitely be a great community event to attend.
Bah! Humbug!
Date: December 15, 2 and 7:30 pm
Venue: Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre, SFU’s Goldcorp Centre for the Arts, 149 West Hastings Street
Tickets: $20 adults; $10 students and seniors; purchase online or at the door one hour prior to showtime.
Photos by David Cooper.
