"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens

The Dales Music and Drama Group.

United Reform Church, Bakersfield.

This is the first production that I've seen from the Dales Music and Drama Group, and what an introduction to this fabulous group. There's no "Bah Humbug" from me with this Christmas cracker of a play.

I've seen quite a few versions of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" but this production cuts out all the flowery bits and effects and gives a truly traditional version of the story, with lines I'd not heard since I read the original book.

The story played all the way through without an interval, which I think was a great decision because the energy and flow would have been affected with an interval.

Ebeneezer Scrooge is played by John Tyas, who embodies the grumpy Scrooge perfectly.

Jamie Smith plays Bob Cratchet, bringing out the impoverished but neatly turned out employee of Scrooge, as well as the loving father and family man, creating a really authentic chemistry with Tim.

Tiny Tim is shared by two young actors, Fran Green and Harry McLaughlin, I saw Harry. What I loved about Harry's performance was that he maintained the limp throughout the show, and all with a cheeky smile on his face.

The three ghosts were done extremely well. 

The Ghost of Christmas Past is played by Mo Beavis with just the right amount of uneasiness to worry Scrooge.

The Ghost of Christmas Present is played by Abby Dixon, who has wonderful projection in her voice and was great fun to watch. She reminded me in the looks department of a young Caroline Quinten, who I am also a big fan of by the way.

The Ghost of Christmas Future is played by Faith Smith and is enough to incite nightmares, especially with that bony, gnarled hand and that cowled dark appearance.

This is a very large cast who work so smoothly together to bring this Christmas story to life.

Indya Fyfe (Mrs Cratchet), Rosanna Sunney (Martha Cratchet), Beth Anesi (Peter Cratchet), Alex Dobbins (Belinda Cratchet/City Business Lady), Richard Epton (Fred/City Businessman), Claire Buckley (Fred's Wife/Laundress), Marina Barnes (Topper), Grace Peachornby (Topper's Girl/Woman's Daughter), Janet Beavis (Charity Worker), Abby Dixon (Watchman), Andrea Haw (Jacob Marley), Faith Smith (Boy Ebeneezer/ The Girl Who Fetches The Goose), Isaac Wilkinson (Fezziwig) - another actor with really powerful projection, Jim Green (Young Man Ebeneezer), Rachel Smith (Belle), Anthony Alldread (Belle's Husband), Marina Barnes (Woman), Rachel Smith (Old Joe), Mo Beavis (Charwoman) - who has a lovely ear for accents and characterisation and Andrea Haw (Undertaker).

If the story itself didn't tweak at the festive feeling within you, the singing of the carols within the play will definitely have you feeling Christmassy.

Directed by Anthony Alldread in his Directorial debut. I applaud his decision to not have an interval and perform straight through which, as I have previously stated, kept a smooth flow. He also decided to stick to the more traditional story-telling and remove all the fluff laying bare the meat of the story. It didn't feel like it was almost ninety minutes straight through, but that shows that this cast were able to keep their audiences' attention from start to finish.

Emma Houghton was the Producer.

There are some great costumes on show provided by Elaine Smith, Abby Dixon and Lois Penniston.

I love the staging and the set design, by Lois Penniston, was simple in design but that fitted in with the way that the show was directed.

The Sound and Light Design is operated by James Lamb and again was just right for the production.

The Stage Crew worked their socks off behind the curtains, when pulled to, as they manoeuvred the props on and off the stage in a timely fashion. A crew that runs like a well oiled machine is extremely important when time is of the essence, and this crew were just that.

The programmes were lain on the chairs, so everyone got a programme, and afterwards there was complimentary drinks and mince pie, just to warm you up before you go out into the cold and to enhance that Christmassy feeling that this production created.

"A Christmas Carol" is being performed at The Dales United Reform Church, Bakersfield until Saturday 2 December.