Theatre in Preview

Thesun is blazing all the more fiercely and shopfront windows are starting to break out the tinsel - Christmas must be just around the corner. And that means it's also time for another staging of 'A Christmas Carol'.

“Well, I am not quite feeling festive just yet,” laughs Richard Murphy, who plays the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in the upcoming Brisbane Arts Theatre production of the traditional story. 

“We have been in rehearsals for about two months, but it is all coming soon. We are just over a week out now from our first performance and we will be spending all of next week fine tuning,” 

Murphy says. “It is probably my favourite time of production because you get to see things come together at the right time - it's very exciting.”
This production of 'A Christmas Carol' retells the classic and much loved tale of a miser turned humanitarian, which was first penned by the great novelist Charles Dickens in 1843. The story has stood the test of time and is set on Christmas Eve with the unpleasant and money-loving Scrooge receiving a visit, one by one, from four ghosts.
The first is from his late business partner Jacob Marley who warns him to change his ways. That visit is then followed by the three Ghosts of Christmas - Ghost of Christmas Past, Ghost of Christmas Present and Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
After being taken on a journey through time, he experiences an awakening of his heart and realises that people are more important than profits, and that it is only through relationships that one can be truly rich.
Since it was originally published, it has undergone countless revisions, both on the stage and on the screen, but despite this almost ubiquitous presence, Murphy thinks the power of its message has not diminished. “It is part of our psyche … most of us are exposed to the story in our early life,” Murphy says. “Classics are classics for a reason - it is a moral tale and … Dickens knew his onions.
“Hopefully, people can still learn from the tale …  even though it is a well-known story and it has been adapted so many different ways, I still feel like the message is one that can be shared. It's one of redemption and no man is an island. You can't lock yourself away; we have to look out for each other.”
“Basically, it is a story for the ages, and even though Christmas is the template, the message should apply to all times.”
Murphy's role of Ebenezer Scrooge - a character so famous and defining that the name has made it's way into everyday language - is one he is overjoyed to play. “It is fun - he goes on a journey - maybe one of the most famous journeys of them all - from grouch to philanthropist really,” Murphy says.
“So as an actor, it's a great role because you go through the whole gamut of emotions.”
This current production was adapted for the stage by Tony Millett and Sally Daly and endeavours to be a faithful reworking of the story.
It also tries to keep true to the language of Dickens, with some dialogue taken directly from passages in the novella.
“We do use some of the (traditional) language, but we keep it accessible,” Murphy says. “It’s beautiful language and we tried to remain true and it is staged with the original text and there are some passages that are lifted directly from the book.”
However, like all good adaptations it has a twist.
“There are so many different renditions of 'A Christmas Carol' and they are all so readily available, from the Muppets to Black Adder,” Murphy says. “But we stick to the traditional story, and in that there is a lot of drama and pathos and a lot of comedy as well.”
“But one change is that it is a musical, there are about 16 or 17 new songs that have been written for this production, so there is a lot of singing. It covers a range of musical styles … but I don't think it swamps the story, it works to enhance the story.”
“And it is played to live music. We have a pianist at the front of the stage during the performance.”
Given the eternal appeal of the story, it is a show that will engage the whole family. “It is a family show and even though it is a main house production it is definitely for kids,” Murphy enthuses. “It will satisfy all audience members from six to 60 and beyond!”

'A Christmas Carol' plays at the Brisbane Arts Theatre from November 26 until December 18.