By Andrew Poretz . . .
There probably isn’t a reader of Theater Pizzazz who has never seen some version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in film, television, or even animation (Mister Magoo, anyone?) You likely read the story back in school a million years ago. You certainly never experienced Dickens himself reading you his story, or better yet, bringing each of his characters to life in front of your very eyes, in a nineteenth-century home built barely a decade before Dickens wrote it. What the dickens, you say? Yet that’s just what is going on right now at the legendary Merchant’s House Museum. This writer attended the opening night, November 25th.
The Merchant’s House is the only family home in New York City to survive intact from the 19th century, complete with its original family furnishings, clothing and personal items. Its second owners, the Treadwell family, lived there for a century. It has been painstakingly and lovingly preserved as a museum.
Each holiday season for the past 13 years, the Museum has presented A Christmas Carol as an hour-long reading by none other than Charles Dickens, produced by the Summoners Ensemble Theatre. The fun premise here is the suggestion that when Charles Dickens performed public readings of this work to sold-out, enthusiastic crowds in New York in 1867, the well-to-do Treadwells might have hired him for a private performance. The part of Dickens was created by John Kevin Jones, who, at this performance, served as the evening’s host to set up this story. Jones, standing in front of the festive Christmas tree in the family parlor, then introduced “Charles Dickens,” portrayed by Vince Gatton. (The actors will be sharing the role on different nights for this run.) For the rest of this review, Gatton shall be referred to solely as Dickens.
Dickens was dressed nattily in black tails and a white cravat. The handsome actor, if slightly young for the part, is dynamic, with impeccable diction and a seemingly flawless British accent. The opening paragraphs famously describes the cold, bleak, biting, and foggy weather while people outside stamp their feet to stay warm, to set a dark and oppressive atmosphere. By sheer coincidence, the stormy New York night, and an unfortunate soul lying under the scaffolding outside the property to stay out of the rain, added a strong touch of verisimilitude to the proceedings. Despite this inclement weather, there were only a few open seats in the parlor.
At first, Dickens “read” from the book, but once the premise was established, and after introducing the ghoulish apparition of “Marley” along with the main character, the bitter curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge, he simply enacted the entire story, seamlessly shifting among characters, accents, and ages. Though there was no music, and there were no special effects, Gattons’ deft storytelling seemed to create these sounds in the imagination, as if listening to an old radio show.
By the story’s end, as Scrooge is now a transformed man with an open heart, Dickens had many in the audience, including this writer, reach for a tissue.
Vince Gatton is a formidable actor. His powerful acting and excellent voice work made for a compelling hour of theater.
For a special treat (and a pricier ticket), there are also receptions following the reading on several dates. For a complete schedule, including performers, reception dates and a ticket link, visit HERE.
A Christmas Carol runs through December 27th.
For more information about The Merchant’s House Museum, visit https://merchantshouse.org/.
Performer photos courtesy of Summoners Ensemble
