reviewvancouver: BAH! HUMBUG!

Ebenezer Scrooge is an eastside pawnbroker in this fun version of A Christmas Carol. Scrooge is played by our very own talented musician and actor, Jim Brynes, and he does a fine job in his role. This is a script reading performance and acted out on a small stage with actors occupying a line of chairs. Bah! Humbug! is a benefit for downtown eastside arts groups.

The evening starts out with the audience singing "The Twelve Days of Christmas" from music sheets that are handed out. With a new twist, Sam Bob, First Nations Carver, gives a carved walking stick to a stranger. The walking stick represents the Spirit of Christmas. In one scene, this beautifully carved walking stick represents little Tim, who, because of his illness, has to use one.

Steve Maddock creates a fabulous and scary ghost of Scrooge’s old partner, Jacob Marley. His wailing is loud and bone-chilling as it should be. It is clever how Maddock uses his wide-knit scarf to represent his chains of bondage.

There are some unique and funny lines like the comparison with Scrooge’s wealth with Oprah’s. What makes this show most appealing is that it takes place in our very own home town of Vancouver in 2013. Scrooge sends a fellow down the street to purchase a big turkey at Save-On-Meats.

A plus to tonight’s performance is the wonderful singing by The Saint James Music Academy Youth Choir that sends melodic notes down to the stage from the balcony.

There are many wonderfully funny lines in this play but I don’t want to spoil it for you in case you are going down to the eastside to see it. A thumbs up!