Review: Holiday Spirit Shines in Attleboro's 'A Christmas Carol'

Attleboro Community Theatre's production of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is haunting, humorous, and ultimately heartwarming.

Geoff White ("Dramatis Persona") is dynamic as Ebenezer Scrooge, the greedy businessman who ignores pleas for charitable donations for the poor, mistreats his long-suffering employee Bob Cratchit (Alan Stavris), and lives a lonely life.

White has a lot of fun with Scrooge's perpetual bad mood, yelling "Bah, humbug!" at a group of carolers outside his window. He also rebuffs the dinner invitation of nephew Fred (Bailey Goff, who also plays the teenage Ebenezer) and brushes off some begging street urchins.

One night, Scrooge has some surprise guests who take him on a journey through his past, the present, and the future. Mark Carter is effective as a sorrowful Jacob Marley, Scrooge's long-dead business partner, warning him to change his ways lest he face eternal damnation.

Emily Mae Partington is ethereal and gentle as The Ghost of Christmas Past, guiding Scrooge through his childhood and adolescence. Dave Almeida is graciously charming as Scrooge's former schoolmaster, Mr. Fezziwig, who was Scrooge's friend and mentor as well.

The Ghost of Christmas Present (Alexander Panagopoulos) shows Scrooge how the people in his life are carrying on with their holiday plans. The Cratchit family is poor, but Mrs. Cratchit (Stephanie Geddes) encourages her children to be grateful for what little they have.

Stavris manages to pull at the heartstrings as he mourns his son "Tiny" Tim (Drew Ferrisi) in Scrooge's bleak vision of the future.

What White does especially well is to reveal the pain beneath Scrooge's stony exterior. It's a fabulous performance.

Co-directors Tammy England and Jeanne Smith, along with their technical crew, have created a great-looking show. England's detailed set designs include Scrooge's posh house, the Cratchits' cozy but modest kitchen, and a bookstore where some children learn about Scrooge's adventures.

"A Christmas Carol" celebrates the values of family over money and compassion over greed. White, as Scrooge, convincingly transforms from a cold-hearted man into a pillar of virtue helping the less fortunate. When he delivers a mammoth turkey to the Cratchits on Christmas Day, the joy in Scrooge's demeanor is infectious and gives one hope for humanity.

"A Christmas Carol" runs through December 17. Attleboro Community Theatre. 71 North Main St., Attleboro, MA. For tickets, visit www.attleborocommunitytheatre.net.