ROCHESTER, Mich.— For many people in Oakland County, it’s the opening of A Christmas Carol at Meadow Brook Theatre that officially kicks off the holiday season. Never more so than this year, after many months of dark theaters.

With its sumptuous staging, beautiful costumes, Victorian carols and faithful Charles Nolte adaptation, this perennial favorite helps conjure one’s spiritual defenses when facing the inevitable holiday mayhem.

We haven’t seen the data, but it’s our suspicion that this beloved Dickens classic is one of the rare shows in which the audience is comprised of as many “repeat offenders” as “first timers.” The conversations in the lobby tend toward how many years straight people have seen A Christmas Carol, and recalling who played whom on which year. Annual attendance, for many families, is something of a red-and-green badge of honor.

Surely, everyone is familiar with the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and the Christmas Eve haunting that brings about his redemption. So, what is it about this show – and the Meadow Brook staging – that packs them in year after year? The story itself is something like grandma’s quilt, a piece that’s beautiful, warm and comfortable enough to wrap up in on a cold blustery night. Since we have had snow in Southeast Michigan while the Thanksgiving leftovers are still in the fridge, it’s a good year to embrace the Christmas traditions early.

The ghosts are, in turn, troubling, heartbreaking, funny and terrifying. The humble, loving Cratchit family reminds us to be grateful for all our blessings. And there are stern warnings, directed at Scrooge, that each of us can take to heart.

Each scene leverages the spectacular production values that never fail to delight. The set design by Peter W. Hicks involves an elaborate turntable that spins, opens and folds to shift between Scrooge’s gloomy counting house, a festive London street, the homes of various characters, the Fezziwig’s shop and even a bleak cemetery. The amazing set changes are part of the entertainment. This highly detailed scenic magic owes much to Reid G. Johnson’s lighting design and special, spectral effects. Perfectly placed sound dynamics, designed by Michael Duncan, carefully define interior and exterior noises, with the clanging of Marley’s chains, the off-stage voices of carolers, and the whistling winter wind layered for perfect effect. Elaborate 19^th Century costumes (oh, those beautiful muffs) are the design work of Mary Pettinato, selected to carefully delineate the class and position of the various characters. There is period dancing (choreography by Jan Puffer) and such beautiful singing (choral direction by CT Hollis with arrangements by Caitlin Burke). And of course, a troupe of actors who are among the best in the business.

That’s another joy of repeat viewings of the show over the course of many years – the satisfaction of comparing ghosts of Christmas Carols past. With this production marking MBT’s 37^th year, many members of the cast have rotated through the various age-appropriate roles. Indeed, Thomas D. Mahard, a favorite Scrooge, is appearing in his 33^rd production. Other favorite Meadow Brook performers in this cast include: Mark Rademacher (Ghost of Jacob Marley and the Spirit of Christmas Present), Olivia Ursu (Spirit of Christmas Past), Mike Vultaggio (Spirit of Christmas Future), and Tobin Hissong and Jean Lyle Lepard (Bob and Martha Cratchit). Phil Powers, Peter Prouty and Chip DuFord are part of a huge ensemble that plays multiple characters. The show boasts a sizeable cuteness-quotient, too, with juvenile performers of all ages. Alternating in the role of Tiny Tim are Abraham Merrill of Lapeer and Ethan Sharp of Clarkston.

If you’ve never seen A Christmas Carol at Meadow Brook Theatre, perhaps it’s time to start your own family tradition. Of course, if you’re a veteran of Christmas Carols past, there is always some new detail or piece of theatrical business to delight the senses. Dickens’ story is sentimental, to be sure, and some will want to dismiss it as an old-fashioned bit of fluff. But we could do worse than embrace Scrooge’s hard-earned lesson; the challenge to honor the spirit of goodwill and generosity all the year is aimed at each of us. Sadly, the world has not outgrown the admonition that “mankind is our business,” nor the warning that Want and Ignorance are dangers we ignore at our peril. This production is perfect for an imperfect world.

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Read more about A Christmas Carol 11/09–12/23

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