Theater Review By Marcina Zaccaria . . .
Summoners Ensemble creates an emotional journey with their presentation of A Christmas Carol at the Merchant’s House.
Walking up the stairs, through extraordinarily narrow hallways of the dwelling that was the house of the Tredwell Family who moved there in 1835, there is something awe-inspiring about taking a journey to the past. In this museum, a dedicated audience of all ages gathers in a cozy living room, for a salon style recitation of the classic holiday story. Summoners Ensemble choses to focus on the idea that Charles Dickens, himself, could have presented his classic tale in New York City in 1867.
Lead Actor John Kevin Jones looks so tall in his period costume, providing a confident sense that, within a one-person show, there can be great range. Embodying the popular characters, Ebenezer Scrooge, Jacob Marley, Bob Cratchit, and Tiny Tim, the Actor, with the Direction of Dr. Rhonda Dodd, finds vocal variety with integrity. I’ve always liked the mixture of anguish, wonder, and phantasmic potential wrapped so elegantly in this classic tale. The cruelty of the Dickensian world includes tales of woe at the factory and poverty in the streets. In this rendition of A Christmas Carol, John Kevin Jones considers the narrative, then winds through each carefully chosen word. He finds moments of redemption after series upon series of mysterious occurrence.
Into the dark, empty rooms, Owner Ebenezer Scrooge must find solace, comparing this year to last year, agonizing about how to make profits and not just prophets appear. The frightening story of the deceased Jacob Marley makes the lead actor want to shake off the chains of economic nightmare. We spend time learning of the failing business before introduction of the Cratchit family. Then, finally, the story settles before filling the quaint parlor of Merchant’s House, decorated with lush, red curtains, Christmas trees, and glowing lights that bring out the spirit of Christmas.
Taking this journey to the past, we somehow find the present. John Kevin Jones, who is also the Co-Adapter, casts glimmers of light on our contemporary society. Among today’s major store closings and the constant, upsetting disillusion of American family life, this Dickensian drama seems more real than ever. While so many US citizens this year are grieving for the loss of loved ones or wishing for the abundance of Christmas, hearing “God Bless Us, Everyone” may be just the thing to bring the warmth of Christmas to the soul.
A Christmas Carol at the Merchant’s House will be running until December 24 at the Merchant’s House Museum, located at 29 East 4th Street. The show has been an exclusive holiday presentation at the Museum since 2013.
