Dec 12
With New Staging, CSC Director Steve Maler Addresses the Redemptive Power of 'A Christmas Carol'
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 8 MIN.
Source: Nile Scott Studios
EDGE: This is such a beloved chestnut you could probably do the same thing every year and audiences would still love it. But I'm sure CSC will put its own unique stamp onto this production.
Steve Maler: Yes, you're absolutely right. This is an iconic piece of literature. There's a reason it's been so cherished and beloved for so long, just like Shakespeare has been so cherished and beloved. The story is [about] the power of human redemption, the power of connection of humanity. Those themes are so deeply urgent to us now.
The notion of joy and celebration and celebrating our fellow man, those are the things that drew me to the material, and the things that the creative team focused on. We wanted to make this piece a love letter to theater, as well. One of the trademarks of our work on the Boston Common is embracing the theatricality of Shakespeare, the music and dance and story, the fighting and great language. We're coming through that lens with this production as well. This piece has over 20 excellent [selections of] holiday music from Dickens era, that are beautifully interwoven to comment on and advance the story. Just glorious, glorious arrangements. We have 16 amazing singers. I have to say, the sound that comes off the stage is so ravishing, and so powerful, and so moving. It helps us weave through a very faithful adaptation of Dickens' narrative with glorious choreography by John Lam. An exquisite design team has built this very, very beautiful production.
EDGE: Is this version a musical?
Steve Maler: It kind of is. None of Dickens' language is set to music, but it really does feel like a musical. There are big dance numbers. There's beautiful singing and extraordinary choreography. But in the midst of that is an incredibly powerful story about the journey to forgiveness, the journey towards celebrating community and love of one another. I think it has the best of both worlds: All the wonderful theatricality that you want from a musical or a holiday extravaganza, but then embedded in it is a powerful story that's so beautifully told by Will Lyman's journey through the character.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
