ACT Reviews 2022-2023 Season

played the little fellow captivating the audience. The other members of the Cratchit family were Bob, played by Myles Ryan, and Kate Fisher as Mrs Cratchit. Both were convincing in their portrayals. The many cameo and supporting roles aided the principle storytelling. Ebenezer’s first apparition is of his late partner Jacob Marley. Bradley Snelling, link by link, forged Marley’s warning to Scrooge that he has a chance to change his ways. We then meet the “Spirits of Christmas” as referred to by Dickens. First, Christmas past: Lilly Smith excelled as the spectre taking Ebenezer through episodes of his own past. Lilly’s skating/floating effect might have had more impact had her costume had covered her footwear. Here we meet the banker Mr Fizziwig and his wife. Michael Shneck and Francesca Bowman exploded like a champagne cork leading the company at the “Fizziwig’s Christmas Ball”. The second visitation is Christmas present (Gareth Braddeley) and through images of the Cratchit’s and his nephew, Scrooge sees what an ogre he has become. Finally, it is the spirit of Christmas-Yet-To-Come; through Elaine Thornburn and Jill Macleod’s powerful playing Scrooge is forced to face his selfish ways and his own death. Although Ebenezer is never off stage he is more of an observer having to react and interact in the scenes. Adrian Grace, as the prosperous