Caroling by Gaslight at The Magnetic Theatre

With the exception of Halloween, I’m not a holiday person. But the holiday stories with a dark touch (namely ghosts) are the ones I gravitate to. So if, like me, you have a macabre sense of humor, writer/director Skyler Goff’s Caroling by Gaslight at The Magnetic Theatre is going to be at the top of your Christmas season watch list.

Set concurrently with the original tale of A Christmas Carol, the play centers on everyone around Ebenezer Scrooge (Jason A. Phillips). Yes, Bob Cratchit (Jered Shults) is of course there, but so are all the people who owe Scrooge money. 

I believe this is the largest cast to grace the Magnetic stage this season, and many of the actors play different roles as the play moves on. The set (built and designed by Tyler Johnson) is simple, with an alleyway becoming a bedroom or an office or a tavern with the aid of a revolving set. The 1840s carols from Little Dickens (Kai Strange) and Chastity (Lilly Mills) make for smooth transitions between scenes.

The premise is that, what if, instead of being “moved by the Spirits of Christmas,” Scrooge was actually at the center of a hallucinogenic-induced murder plot? Instead of seeing ghosts, he just had a really bad trip, thanks to the efforts of Mistress Bates (Ashleigh Goff) and Ms. Stilburn (Jenni Robinson). 

After all, wouldn’t everyone’s debts be forgiven after a well-placed blow to the head by Master Bates (Strother Stingley) and the Dornells (Adam Olson and Molly Graves) signing the death certificate? Even Fred (Rachel McCrain), Scrooge’s nephew, is in on the idea, with Ms. Treadaboards (Emily Tucker) giving the rest of the crew the notion to make it theatrical in order to appeal to Scrooge’s heart — before resorting to murder, that is. 

If the amount of characters seems daunting, fear not! Each role is so distinctive that it’s easy to keep track of who’s who, even when the entire cast is on stage. It’s truly an ensemble performance with each actor granted at least one moment to shine and deliver zingers. And the on-stage fights between Bob and, well, many other characters, are hilarious but also extremely well done thanks to Stingley’s impressive choreography. 

As mentioned previously, this play is dark. Its content isn’t for everyone, but if you’re the kind to laugh at a throwaway line about Whitechapel, then this is the show for you. It’s over-the-top, loud, and crass, but isn’t that what the holidays are all about? 

This isn’t the play that will make you think long and hard about your life. This is the one you take your fun cousins to after having tie-in themed cocktails at Little Jumbo. (Both drinks sound delicious, by the way.)

Caroling by Gaslight runs through Saturday, Dec. 17, at The Magnetic Theatre. For details and tickets, visit themagnetictheare.org.

(Photo by Jennifer Bennett)