‘A Christmas Carol’: A fresh take on a classic

From left to right: Gary Neal Johnson as Scrooge, Zachary Andrews as Fred

The Christmas favorite, “A Christmas Carol,” is being performed at the KC Repertory Theatre this holiday season.

The show features a diverse, talented cast, including many UMKC students and alumni.

This is the KC Rep’s 30th anniversary of the classic tale, and although the story itself is more than 160 years old, the KC Rep keeps it fresh and entertaining for both those who attend the show annually and those who are experiencing it for the first time.

Directed by Kyle Hatley, this performance of “A Christmas Carol” added an element of wit and humor, with a superb script perfectly executed by a fantastic cast.

“A Christmas Carol” stars Gary Neal Johnson as the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge. Johnson has played Scrooge for nine seasons at the KC Rep, and his experience is evident with his perfect timing and delivery.

Although Scrooge is the star of the play, most of the cast members shined.

KC Rep has a partnership with UMKC’s Department of Theatre, and the performance included many talented actors from UMKC, including Kat Endsley, Andrea Morales and Kelly Gibson, and students who worked behind the scenes, such as Assistant Director Eric Graves, a third-year acting student at UMKC.

Costume designer Lacy Hansen, who is responsible for the amazing period costumes, has a Master’s in Fine Arts (MFA) in Costume Design and a Master’s in Music Theatre from UMKC.

The performance was entertaining from beginning to end, but one of the first actors who truly took my breath away was Zachary Andrews, who is a third-year MFA acting student at UMKC.

He played Fred, Scrooge’s optimistic nephew who loves Christmas and the season of giving.

Andrews exploded on stage with passion and skill. His powerful delivery made each of his scenes memorable.

Another highlight was The Ghost of Christmas Present, played by Jim Gall.

Gall, who has a Bachelor’s Degree in theater from UMKC, garnered some of the biggest laughs as he walked through the audience, sprinkling glitter on some audience members.

He cracked jokes about a newly engaged couple in attendance, as well as the University of Kansas’s loss to the University of Missouri in football earlier that day.

Instances like this made this performance stand out as exceptional.

The KC Rep has another real winner on its hands with “A Christmas Carol,” and if possible, this performance should become an annual event for anyone lucky enough to attend.

“A Christmas Carol” is playing now through Dec. 26 at the Spencer Theatre in the KC Rep. Tickets are $90 each. Please call 816-235-2700, or visit www.kcrep.org for more information.

moribhabor@unews.com