A Dickensian Delight from Junior Actors
With Christmas drawing near and the festive lights twinkling in the cold winter air, the prospect of an evening at the theatre to watch ‘A Christmas Carol’ was enough to fill even the most mean-hearted old miser or Head of English with seasonal cheer. The audience at the RGS Performing Arts Centre was treated to a fine performance of Dickens’ classic tale of redemption and salvation, and a young cast of junior drama scholars performed admirably. This additional show in December is very much a new feature of Drama at RGS. It is a sign of how much theatrical talent there now is at the School that this young group of performers can stage such an impressive performance so early in their Drama careers at RGS Worcester.
The snow-dusted iron lampposts and giant turkey in the foyer immediately evoked the atmosphere of Victorian London. Clever details of staging presented Scrooge (played by Bruno Bond Evans) separated from the world around him by a grim desk piled high with ledgers. Bruno played Scrooge as almost deadened by his love of money as if his avarice had rendered him robotically indifferent to all human feeling and want. He was an austere figure, miserly certainly, but almost bureaucratically callous and emotionally inert. It was an interesting and strikingly contemporary way to approach a figure so well-known he has the familiarity of myth.
Dickens’ characters are so much larger than life: they exist in the space between realism, caricature and archetype. For younger actors, who cannot inhabit the same physical dimension as Dickens’ adults, this can be a challenge; but the performers and Director found innovative and interesting ways to negotiate a tricky challenge. Archie Davey was a pleasantly avuncular Fezziwig but also menacing and cynical as Old Joe. Elsie Rose-Lyons and Amelie Garner were excellent in several roles but were particularly good as the two detestable women who steal and sell Scrooge’s possessions after his death. Henry Webber, as Fred, was endearing, with bundles of charm and affability. Rose Savory and Harriet Murphy, in the roles of Dickens and his soon-to-be biographer Forster, did an impressive job of providing the play with narrative cohesion. These framing scenes act as a meta-theatrical commentary upon the narrative’s creation: Rose captured Dickens’ earnest, urgent drive and ambition. Marking his first time on an RGS stage, Matthew Jermy was a memorably cheerful Tiny Tim. There was also some adept comic timing from Barney Dunnett as Bob Cratchit. The entire cast deserves huge congratulations for such an enjoyable performance.
On stage we were able to see already talented performers visibly grow in confidence; one can see how productions such as this are enabling young actors to explore theatrically interesting roles; they are being given the chance to hone and develop the stage skills of voice, movement and dramatic instinct. Many already have a considerable presence and are compelling to watch. Most of the actors had to transition between different characters and did so with real assurance.
There were several particularly memorable scenes. Two stood out. The first of these was the appearance of Marley accompanied by a host of purgatorial spirits writhing in agony and despair as Scrooge’s former partner delivered his grim warning. The second was the scene in which Scrooge is shown the figures of Ignorance and Want. This was performed as a poignant polyphonic chorus of voices. Each voice delineated a new aspect of the suffering caused by industrialisation, labour efficiency and the other callous mantras of Victorian capitalist exploitation. It worked so well because the audience suddenly realised we were not only hearing the voice of Dickens’ Victorian world but also the continuing depredations of our times. The whole company performed the scene with an arresting and moving intensity. Moments later, Cerys Hickman, as the Ghost of Christmas Present was particularly powerful in the way she conveyed her anger at Scrooge’s unremitting heartlessness.
The performance was given an added dimension by the involvement of the Junior Jazz ensemble and the musical element lent a festive, carnivalesque energy to the production.
For two such enjoyable and ambitious performances, ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘Miss Saigon’, to have been staged in consecutive weeks at one school is truly remarkable. It is really an exceptional achievement. The amount of work and dedication involved from the cast, stage crew, musicians, front-of-house staff and everybody else involved is phenomenal. Mrs Witcomb and Mr Garrity deserve a special mention: they have done it again! Bravo, indeed.
And finally, have a happy, restful and enjoyable Christmas and . . . you know it’s coming . . . God Bless Us, Every One!
Mr Nicholas Phillips, Head of English