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Alley's 'Carol' frightfully good time
 The season of haunted houses, costumes and props galore may be gone, but thanks to one Houston theatre's new staging of a holiday ghost story, the scares sure aren't. From an accounting house partner who has been "dead as a doornail" for seven long years to a ensemble of grimly dancing apparitions strewn throughout this two-hour production, the Alley Theatre's new production of A Christmas Carol, A Ghost Story of Christmas is a hauntingly fun re-telling of Charles Dickens' ghostly little book.
Following the classic tale of miserable miser Ebenezer Scrooge's transformation into a jolly holiday character, Michael Wilson has adapted and directed the production into its most frightful incarnation since the Alley began staging the show in 1988. Wilson, formerly Alley's Associate Artistic Director, returns to the Tony award-winning theatre this year with a darker Carol, while utilizing the same script he adapted for the production he directed in the theatre's 1990 version.
Wilson's original version played on Alley's Hubbard Stage for nearly a decade before the production was retired and re-imagined by new director Stephen Rayne.
Featuring newly imagined scenic design by Tony Straiges, costumes by Alejo Vietti, lighting by Rui Rita and original music by John Gromada, the Alley's new telling of Scrooge's journey is immeasurable in terms of expectations. Translation: This isn't the Carol you may have read in middle school. From black-lit, dancing ghosts with glowing daggers and axes protruding from the bodies of these ghastly apparitions to the entrance of Scrooge's business partner, Jacob Marley, straight from the fiery depths of Hell, this production is not suitable for the very young or timid. Where former versions of the production failed to scare, Wilson's new staging of the Dickens classic is bone-chilling and much more affective. And, while not to give away the details, the Ghost of Christmas Future is the scariest specter to be seen on the Alley stage-perhaps, any stage-yet. Quite appropriate for the season, the Alley could have easily began filling seats in October, even, for the scare factor alone on this production.
A strong delivery by Scrooge veteran James Black, and a cast of more than 30 characters (featuring the talents of many of the Alley Theatre Resident Company), the new telling of A Christmas Carol, A Ghost Story of Christmas is as good as it gets when it comes to live theatre haunts. So good, in fact, the show might just leave you wondering who says the scares have to end in October.
A Christmas Carol, A Ghost Story of Christmas runs through December 28 at the Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave. Visit the Alley's web site at www.alleytheatre.org, or by phone at 713-228-8421 for more information and for tickets. The Alley will also have several opportunities for ticket discounts. |
posted by Brandon | 11/28/2005 12:06:00 PM
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Dia De Los Muertos
| Halloween is over, but the dead have not yet been completely honored. An old Mexican tradition, actually a tradition dating to the days of the Aztecs, Day of the Dead honors those who have died. Where as one of Halloween's origins come from dressing up to ward of the evil spirits, those who celebrate Day of the Dead decorate to remember those who came before us. Here are a couple of links if you interested in learning more about this wonderful celebration: day-of-the-dead.org and www.diadelosmuertos.us. |
posted by Michael | 11/02/2005 11:04:00 AM
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