A Very Good Christmas Carol is the brainchild of Jeffrey Nolan and Hawken Paul with some input from Charles Dickens of course and if I’m being completely truthful, the audience itself. The genius of the show is that they have told Dickens classic story hilariously but without losing the spirit of the immortal work. Nolan and Paul play Edmund and Martin two orphans who decide to pass the time putting on their adaptation of A Christmas Carol. They realize that two actors with a trunk full of props and costumes isn’t quite enough, but with the help of the audience… they can pull it off. I didn’t have time for this show, it’s the 17th day of December and this was my 13th show, and my second of the day. I should have been relaxing with my feet up watching It’s a Wonderful Life or Remember the Night, so why wasn’t I? Well you see, there’s this thing that happens when you review over 150 shows a year, in that sea of theater every now and then a performer stands out and shines if not brighter, than in a unique way. We are so fortunate in the Twin Cities to have a wealth of very talented actors, it’s not unusual to see great performances on our stages. What is unique and only happens a couple of times a year, if that, is to see someone who captures your attention, not just by giving a great performance but by showing something new and unique. In 2023 the actor that stood out to me and was added to my list of ”try and see everything they do”, was Jeffrey Nolan. So when I heard about this show, I had to find a way and I’m so glad I did. It did not disappoint, Nolan and Paul were both brilliant in their performances but also in their creation of such an enjoyable show. This was the fifth entertainment I’ve seen this season that was based on a Christmas Carol, I can now quote long passages from the book by heart, and yet this was among my favorites and I was completely engaged and entertained throughout.
Both actors play multiple roles but with Hawken Paul playing Scrooge for the majority of the play, Nolan gets to do what he does so well, create a multitude of unique and hilarious characterizations. Both Paul and Nolan display wonderful gifts for improvisation, their reactions to some of the responses given from audience members are as funny as anything scripted. They are also able to keep the fast paced script moving along but recall details added by the audience throughout. One can see from there effortless breakneck paced interactions and similar boundless energy why they have chosen to work and create together. Could anyone else keep up with either of them? It’s truly breathtaking. Now I know some of you are squirming at the mention of audience participation but fear not. If you don’t relish playing the Ghost of Jacob Marley or Sidney one of the men trying to raise funds to provide some food and drink for the less fortunate this time of year, no fear, it’s all volunteer based. I was sitting in the front row and nobody forced me to play a Cratchit child or Scrooge’s love interest. I do want to also acknowledge the cleverness of the costumes and props, the fluid way in which everything needed was right at hand and the transitions flowed seamlessly from one scene to the next. So a big kudos to Anneliese Garner for the costumes, Mady Smith and Greg Paul for the props and set construction. The show is near the end of it’s run, with just three more performances this year December 19th in Granite Falls, MN, December 20th in Madison, MN, and December 22nd in Stillwater, MN. But, if this sounds like something you’d love to see, and if you enjoy laughing, than it should, it will hopefully be back again next year. I for one would relish the chance to bring more and more people to this show and experience it again. You can follow the show and find tickets on instagram at @verygoodchristmascarol.
This Holiday season why not start a new tradition of taking in a live theater production with family and friends? It’s a great way to create lasting memories and will give you something to look forward to every year as you experience the magic of live theater. Whether your budget is large or small, there is a show for you. Looking for gift ideas? Don’t we all have enough “stuff”? Give the gift of live theater, go to your favorite theaters website, see what shows they have coming up in the new year and give the gift of an experience over material.
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