Last updated 05:36, Friday, 04 July 2008

Scrooge – The Musical, StagedRight Youth Theatre, Sands Centre, CarlisleThis Christmas cracker spread plenty of cheer.

It was a potentially dangerous move (but one that proved clever) to bring to life one of the most famous festive stories right in the middle of the year.

A sprinkling snow machine and actors flying through the air on harnesses – although a little tentatively – tried to create the magic but it was the ‘snowball effect’ of the talented cast that kept you glued to every word. Every actor was under 18 years old – a fact quickly forgotten thanks to their strong, polished and professional performances.

Minor problems with the set – which appeared quite complex and too time-consuming during some scene changes – were handled magnificently.

Bob Cratchit (Matthew McKenna) couldn’t open a sticky door during the opening spoken scene and Scrooge (Clark Wilkinson) pulled out a brilliant ad-lib – ‘you can use the back door man’ – to show his colleague a way off the stage.

Lead actor Clark, from Flimby, is surely a star in the making. His Scrooge was stooped, sneering and scary (if a little reminiscent of Montgomery Burns from The Simpsons).

His transformational rebirth after the visits from the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future and his old friend Jacob Marley was also believable.

Clark performed several show stopping solo songs and gelled well with Jonny Landels – a glam rock ghost of Christmas present. Visions of Brian Blessed came into my head as Jonny’s deep, booming voice and large, bearded costume took Scrooge on his 2am haunt into the Christmas present.

Choreography on the large chorus routines, of which there were many, was well done particularly taking into consideration the scores of youngsters involved.

Alex Spiers (as comedy character Mr Fezziwig) and Jack McNeill (as Tiny Tim) are two I’d like to see flourish in years to come.

Scrooge wasn’t the only one to taste the milk of human kindness as the audience rose to its feet for a standing ovation.

KELLY EVE