A Christmas Carol poster image

The Pacific Theatre is proud to present Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, performed by Jessie Award nominated Ron Reed. In this one man adaptation, the thrilling originality, wit, and fire of Dickens’ masterpiece of storytelling is restored by way of vivid characterization and compelling social conscience.

Scrooge has been around for so long that few people question when and where he began. Dickens’ diaries tell us that the character of Scrooge first emerged from a grave marker he came across in the Canongate Kirkyard in Edinburgh in 1841. The headstone marked the grave of Ebenezer Lennox Scroggie and called him a “meal man”, as he was a corn merchant. In the low-lit cemetery, Dickens read it to say that Scroggie was a “mean man” instead. That was enough to set his imagination in motion about a man who could be so terrible as to have this insult etched on his grave stone. Scrooge’s picture strikes a dissonant chord with today’s headlines. 

Marleys Ghost image from from Wikipedia Commons
[Image from from Wikipedia Commons]

A miser to the core, Scrooge lives as a foil to the high-rolling bankers that dominate today, living nearly as poorly as his ill-used underlings.

Reflecting on the choice of production that may seem like a cash cow for the holiday season, Reed says, “working with Dickens’ original text, the story of Ebenezer Scrooge is anything but frivolous or sentimental. This story plays for keeps. Dickens’ language is extraordinary, his passion for justice electrifying, his insights into the human heart substantial.”  In fact, he says, “this show is beginning to feel like one of those personal artistic landmarks – those shows you end up thinking back on as your greatest, or most meaningful experiences as an artist.”

Director Sarah Rodgers calls this production “A Christmas Carol as never seen before… it is probably the closest and purest production to Dickens text as you will ever get, in a unique setting that evokes imagination and curiosities.”

And The Vancouver Courier’s Jo Ledingham adds, “Ron Reed’s Damien is a fiery, multi-layered one-man performance – emotional, well-rounded and complex.  A tour-de-force!”.

Before founding Pacific Theatre in 1984, Ron Reed received an MFA in acting from Cal Arts. He has been nominated for Jessie Awards for his performances in Shadowlands, A Man for All Seasons, Mourning Dove, God’s Man in Texas and Cotton Patch Gospel.

A Christmas Carol

Dates: December 2 through 31 (Wednesday through Saturday, 8pm; 2 pm matinee on Saturdays)
Venue: Pacific Theatre, 1440 West 12th Avenue (at Hemlock)
Tickets: $16.50-29.50, not including HST. Reserve either by phone at 604.731.5518 or online

Pay-what-you-can preview on Thursday, December 1
Artist talkback on Friday, December 9.
Added matinee on Wednesday, December 28
No performance on Saturday, December 24

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