'Christmas Carol' Makes It Simple By PHILIP BRANDES Santa Susana Repertory Company's
child-friendly "A Christmas Carol" paints Dickens' tale in bright, bold colors
that guarantee the clarity of its hopeful message. As Scrooge, Walter Koenig nails
the stone-hearted miser at the outset, rebuffing the overtures of others with
self-satisfied sneers. The apparitions are a mixed bag: Lane Davies is a regal
Christmas Present, deftly modulating cheeriness with more ominous undercurrents,
and Ruth Cordell is a sympathetic Christmas Past. However, in Scrooge's dismissal
of David Himes' over-the-top Marley as a "bit of undigested beef," ham would be
nearer the mark. The menacing phantom of Christmas Future looks straight out of
"Star Wars"--one of several design distractions that include dresses better suited
to chorus girls and scenery from an opening park scene that becomes an obstacle
course in later minimally furnished locales. Director Allan Hunt makes a superb
Bob Cratchit, exerting skillfully understated guidance in his scenes with the
younger performers (including Nathan Davies as Tiny Tim). Despite some added songs
and dance numbers (featuring Rick Rhodes' original music), the adaptation by James
Egan closely follows the text. The most significant innovation frames the story
as a memory play narrated by a twinkly codger (Robert Nairn), with a surprise
twist. * * * * "A Christmas Carol," Scherr Forum Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic
Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Today, Tuesday and Dec. 15, 10 a.m.; Thursday,
Saturday and Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday and Dec. 19, 2:30 p.m.; Dec. 16, 10 a.m.
and 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 18, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. $22-$25. (805) 583-8700, (213) 480-3232.
Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes.