A Christmas Carol — classic tale of redemption — to Dec 21 at UFV Theatre

Is it possible to turn a life around? To change oneself completely? To find hope in the darkest hours? More than 160 years after it first captured imaginations, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol continues to astound and delight audiences and actors alike. Playing December 10-21 at UFV Theatre, this new production offers all the warmhearted joy and memorable Dickensian characters known around the world.

“It’s a story of redemption more than anything,” says Gabriel Kirkley, who plays the infamous Ebenezer Scrooge, “Scrooge is a man who feels he has wasted his life. To me, it’s the unbearable, overwhelming guilt of missed chances that has made him so cruel, twisted and, frankly, such a humbug.”

As the approaching Christmas fouls his mood, Scrooge berates his poor clerk Bob Cratchit (Blake Kimber) and shuts out his only living relative, his nephew Fred (Reilly Ellis). However, when he is visited in the night by his old partner Jacob Marley (Peter Shaver) and the three ghosts of Christmas Past (Karlianna DeWolff), Present (John Jenkins) and Yet to Come (Katherine Skittrell), he realizes that he is literally in a fight, not just for his future, but for his life.

Originally adapted by the Royal Shakespeare Company, this production brings in a number of new elements and a few surprises. Accompanying Scrooge on his journey are a chorus of three ghosts (Eli Funk, Aaron Froc and Dayna Thomas) who capture Dickens’ ironic point of view and provide a bit of comic relief along the way.

“Think about it from Scrooge’s perspective: it’s the worst day of the year and you’ve just settled in for bed. Then, there’s these blasted ghosts in your bedroom and suddenly you’re flying off through the air to anywhere and everywhere,” says Kirkley, “The designers and everyone involved have done a remarkable job capturing the spirit and essence of the story.”

Staged by director Paul Gelineau, the production takes on a Tim Burton-esque feel. With a topsy-turvy set and lighting design co-created by students Calvin Baker and Nicole Janisch, it can feel at moments like the entire world has gone off kilter. But, says Kirkley, that is partly the point.

“What makes this show so relatable is that we all understand what Scrooge is going through. Young or old, we’ve all felt our world turned upside down and wanted to change the past. But the lesson is that only the present is ours and we can do with it what we will.”

A Christmas Carol is playing from December 10 to 21. Information on specific performance dates and ticket prices can be found on the UFV Theatre website at ufv.ca/theatre or by calling 604-795-2814. Tickets can be purchased online, over the phone or in person at the performance theatre at 45635 Yale Road, Chilliwack.