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A CurtainUp Los Angeles Review
Scrooge Must Die
| Please keep my body fed, Please keep my body warm, Fuck Jesus, Christmas, God and all, Rise up into the storm. — Ensemble |
Scott Harris as Scrooge and Elora Doone as Tiny Tim
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It's Dickens familiar story and characters turned inside out. The seamy side reveals simulated porn (no nudity), homosexuality, cruelty, child prostitution, crudity, irreverence and scatology." A—hole" is used more than "humbug" which, though more contemporary, is less descriptive, like so many overused nouns or orifices.
This Scrooge is played with manic nastiness by the excellent Scott Harris, whose early life with his cruel parents and the death of his beloved sister Fanny (an exquisite Emilia Herman) turn him into a misanthrope. The poverty and suffering that made Dickens' work so powerful is handled with vicious mockery in this version. Berliner directs her excellent cast with vitality, though it's hard to separate originality from repetitive porn whose shock value soon loses its zing. She redeems herself in the play's final moments when Scrooge dreams of the death of Tiny Tim, played with wistful poignance by Elora Dannon. The uncredited song, sung with haunting power by Chris Schultz as Bob Cratchit, then implemented by the Ensemble, narrows the raucous misery down to the quality of a prayer, although Scrooge is a self-described atheist in this production.
In this era of terrifying recession, Berliner holds a mirror up to reality. This rendition emphasizes perverted sex as an escape but finally accepts the salvation of confrontation. It's reminiscent of the story of the little boy whose parents were atheists but one day found him talking and praying to Henry. Henry had all the qualities of God. This production can't get away from it.
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Scrooge Must Die Playwright/Director: Angela Berliner Cast: Scott Harris (Scrooge), Justin Zsebe (Marley), Chris Schultz (Bob Cratchit), Jeffry Branlon (Portly Gentleman 1/Baby Fezziwig), Pierre Adeli (Portly Gentleman 2/Mr. Fezziwig), Seth Compton (Peter Cratchit/Dick Wilkins), Anne Brashier (Anne Cratchit), R. J. Jones (Fred/Fred Sr.), Sabra Williams (Emily/Mrs. Fezziwig), Emilia Herman (Fanny), Steven M. Porter (Gaffer Scrooge), Miriam Stark (Gammer Scrooge), Toni Torres (Belle/Eliza), Cindy D'Andrea (Maggie), Heather J. Thomas (Martha Cratchit), Elora Dannon (Tiny Tim) Assistant Director: Will Pellegrini Scenic & Lighting Design: Francois-Pierre Couture Costume Design: Kathryn Poppen Sound Designer: John Zalewski Running Time: 80 minutes, no intermission Running Dates: December 6-January 10, 2008 Where:. The Actors Gang, 9070 Venice Blvd, Culver City. Reservations: (310) 838-GANG Reviewed by Laura Hitchcock on December 6, 2008. |
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