Tom Titus When you’ve been putting on...

Tom Titus

When you’ve been putting on the same holiday show for 23 years, to

the point where you could do it in your sleep, it’s easy to fall into

phone-it-in mode, to go through the motions and press all the right

buttons.

Happily, South Coast Repertory has not fallen into that trap. Its

latest rendition of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” -- adapted

in 1980 by company member Jerry Patch and produced every December

since then -- is a fresh and vital staging, even for someone who has

seen all 22 previous editions.

True, the same familiar faces appear in their usual assignments,

but this time director John-David Keller, who also performs in the

play, has made a few adjustments here and there -- subtle changes not

readily apparent to the occasional visitor. These minor

embellishments enhance the enjoyment of the time-honored classic.

To begin with, Ebenezer Scrooge -- as wonderfully interpreted for

the 23rd time by Hal Landon Jr. -- is even more of a grasping,

heartless miser than before, if this is possible. Landon lets loose a

tirade against the holiday season early in the show which surpasses

any “bah, humbugs” he’s unleashed to date. The lines haven’t changed,

just the volatility of their delivery.

With new set designer Tom Buderwitz fine tuning the backdrops

created back in 1980 by Cliff Faulkner, there are also some scenic

surprises, such as when Scrooge discovers in his trip to the future

that the freshly dug grave is his own. The individual settings seem

to whoosh on and off stage faster in the current incarnation.

Timothy Landfield, who’s been seen in major roles at SCR on three

occasions (most notably in “The Norman Conquests”), joins the holiday

cast as the Spirit of Christmas Present, injecting a jolly, upbeat

presence that turns stark and gloomy after intermission. Richard

Doyle is back as the sage Spirit of Christmas Past, while Don Took

continues to shock the daylights out of the kiddies when he crashes

through Scrooge’s door as the ghost of Jacob Marley.

Keller and Martha McFarland enliven the early moments as spurned

solicitors, while Art Koustik revels in his usual dual assignment of

Fezziwig and Joe the Scavenger. Howard Shangraw again excels as

Scrooge’s jovial nephew, while David Whalen enlivens the role of

Scrooge’s downtrodden clerk, Bob Cratchit, and Devon Raymond puts a

richly contrary spin on the role of Cratchit’s wife.

The thwarted romance of the younger Scrooge (Jonathan Del Arco)

and the poor but proud Belle (Julia Coffey) is beautifully played

out, while Philip C. Vaden gives a fine foreshadowing of the stern

businessman Jacob Marley will become. Hisa Takakuwa doubles nicely as

a street toy seller and the less-than-sympathetic wife of Scrooge’s

nephew.

Members of the traditional kiddie corps are appropriately charming

and energetic, with Casey Wianecki particularly engaging as Tiny Tim.

(He alternates with Alison Wexler). The large supporting cast

enriches the street scenes of a freezing London in December.

Even after 23 years, “A Christmas Carol” at South Coast Repertory

brings a tear to the eye and a lump to the throat. It’s a glorious

tradition that has jump-started the holiday season for 23 years.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His

reviews appear Thursdays and Saturdays.