Reviewed by Amanda Callas
A Christmas Carol is a beloved annual tradition at the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood through December 21st. The longest running Hollywood production of A Christmas Carol, this year marks the 55th anniversary of this annual staging of the Charles Dickens play, but it is my first time seeing it this year.
In a place like Los Angeles, that feels the need to constantly modernize or re-imagine classics, it is a particular kind of pleasure to take in a production as unabashedly traditional as this one. With excellent direction by Jesse Corti and adaptation and choreography by Julietta Corti, this is a soulful, stunning staging of this Christmas classic. I find the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood's Christmas Carol to be quite unexpectedly, stirringly beautiful. It will leave you feeling restored.
At this point, I have probably seen A Christmas Carol one too many times, yet even I- jaded and oversaturated as I may be - find The First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood's production to be fresh, poignant, and profoundly moving. It is quite possible that seeing this production of A Christmas Carol may reignite your love for Dickens.
The unique scenic design by lead actor Tim Farmer, austere, lovely and antique-feeling, has a warmth and simplicity that is striking. The cathedral-like space itself becomes a character in the play, with its rich texture of hundred year old wood and brick, its soaring Gothic Revival ceilings and sense of heightened mood and scale. As the matinee I attended went deeper into the afternoon, the fading sunlight coming in through the stained glass windows lent the staging a kind of eerie, supernatural beauty. At the end of the play, as the actors gathered around the church to sing some beautiful Christmas songs a cappella, there was such a powerful sense of quiet, redemptive joy that I found myself tearing up.
Superb actor Tim Farmer stands out in the large, vibrant, talented ensemble for his naturalistic commitment to the part of Ebenezer Scrooge. Farmer feels genuinely grumpy, disturbingly selfish and somewhat terrifying, but he also lands the dry wit and lively humor of Dickens with pitch perfect timing. I laughed out loud quite a few times at Farmer's brilliant, unexpectedly morbid line delivery. This is an enchanting performance through and through.
A. Jeffrey's Schoenberg's costumes are subtle, textured, antique-feeling, and gorgeous. Sound design, music and engineering by Evan Turunen and Lia are exquisite and captivating.
After the performance of the play, the complimentary Fezziwig Christmas Party has a truly sumptuous array of cookies, coffee and hot cider, and a lovely place to relax and talk by the fire.
First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood's A Christmas Carol is more than simply a play, it is a complete event, transportive and delightful, that offers that most promised but actually most elusive of seasonal commodities - the holiday spirit.
There are 11 performances in total, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday thru Dec 21, 2024. Friday & Saturday evening performances: 7:30pm, Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm, and Sunday Matinee only: 2:30pm. Tickets: $25 dollars, Senior prices: $20.00, Student prices: $15.00, Children prices: $15.00, and Family 4 pack: $50.00 (get 25% off if you buy 4 or more tickets). VIP SEATS IN THE SCROOGE AND MARLEY SECTION: $35.00 PER PERSON includes best seats in the house, a reserved table at the Fezziwig Christmas Party including desserts and refreshments. All tickets include free parking and an invite to the Fezziwig Christmas Party after the performance. First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood is located at 1760 N. GOWER ST. HOLLYWOOD CA. Free parking lots located on site. For more info and tickets please call (323) 928-7452 or visit
https://www.achristmascarolhollywood.com
.