Five Reasons To See....A Christmas Carol

The Library Theatre's production of the Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol opens at the Lowry next month. We caught up with Paul Barnhill (who plays Fred Scrooge, Ebeneezer's nephew) to give us his five reasons to along and see this festive favourite.
What's On Stage

A Christmas Carol: 'An unashamedly English production'

‘There is something really special about the generosity of spirit that is conjured up by this time of year,” believes Rachel O’Riordan, the multi award-winning director of the Library Theatre Company’s new production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
City Life

...Library Theatre’s current production should be top of your priority list, as they’ve managed to turn an over performed piece into an engaging, invigorating and uplifting night out... David Beames is an ideal choice as Ebenezer Scrooge... Jack Lord is very watchable as Scrooge’s put upon but unbelievably loyal clerk, Bob Cratchit.
Sale and Altrincham Messenger (Rating: 4/5)

David Holman’s fine adaptation... inventive staging... The gothic set is hugely impressive... David Beames plays Scrooge with the tremulous fear of someone watching his whole life being deconstructed in front of him... Lisa Kerr... plays her three characters... with true feeling... a captivating show for all ages...
The Stage

...an enjoyable, but not outstanding, version of the story we all know and love... David Beames' Scrooge is the lynchpin of this production, managing the transition from grouchy old loner to generous uncle in a believable and energetic manner... Abigail McGibbon plays two contrasting characters very well... The set and music capture Dickensian London to a tee... The ghost of Christmas Future (a larger than life skeletal puppet) is both beautiful and unnerving, but highlights the other spirits as a little underwhelming.
What's On Stage (Rating: 3/5)

...strikingly-beautiful stage picture from designer Gary McCann... beautifully lit by lighting designer James Whiteside... fails to gel together coherently... Conor Mitchell's music sets the atmosphere and rearranges Christmas carols in clever and complex ways... Scrooge, played by David Beames in such a slow and hesitant way that there are times when he looks as though he has forgotten what he is doing... Jack Lord is superb as Bob Cratchit with a nice performance from Abigail McGibbon as his wife, Claude Close is a jolly Mr Fezziwig and Lisa Kerr creates some nice, sympathetic characters... the show looks and sounds wonderful but the jumble of ideas doesn't hang together...
British Theatre Guide

...Gary McCann’s stunning set... The use of video projection is very effective... David Beames who plays Scrooge... never fully gets to grips with the desolate, wretched nature of the character... his journey of discovery and repentance is largely a hollow and unconvincing one... Conor Mitchell’s music is very effective in underscoring... but the choral arrangements of traditional carols are discordant, tuneless and totally out of keeping...
The Public Reviews (Rating: 3/5)

A strong and experienced cast... David Beames’ Scrooge glued the entire production together... a startling Christmas Yet To Come of whom Gary McCann (Designer) should be justly proud... Paul Barnhill’s Fred Scrooge... drives his middle-class scenes with the same intensive Peace and Goodwill to All that Jack Lord provides as the poverty-stricken Bob Cratchit. Claude Close’s Jacob Marley is just plain scary, a fascinating contrast to his jolly generous Fezziwig... Tiny Tim, seeming healthier than Dickens intended... the production seemed curiously muted... Scrooge’s character here hadn’t far to travel from miser to benefactor...
UK Theatre Network

...the Library Theatre’s current production should be top of your priority list, as they’ve managed to turn an over performed piece into an engaging, invigorating and uplifting night out... David Beames is an ideal choice as Ebenezer Scrooge... Jack Lord is very watchable...
Lancashire Telegraph