All-woman cast fires up ‘Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big Aurora Fox Christmas Show!’

Upon entering the theatre, all I could think was, “Do we really need another version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol?” However, after seeing Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big Aurora Fox Christmas Show now at Aurora Fox Arts Center, the answer is a resounding “YES!”

Welcoming the audience to the theatre, Aurora Fox Executive Producer Richard Cowden described Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big Aurora Fox Christmas Show as a spoof of a spoof. That may be — however, I do know this adaptation is a whirlwind of laughter and festive cheer. Penned by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen and brought to life under the impeccable direction of Steven J. Burge, this production is a masterful blend of wit, humor and heart.

Along with Aurora Fox Arts Center, a handful of theatres around town are performing their version of A Christmas Carol to bolster the holiday spirit. This production, set in the wild, wild West (i.e., Aurora, Colorado), stays faithful to the original storyline. Ebenezer is still a Scrooge, Tiny Tim melts your heart, and the three ghosts get it right about the past, present and future. There is no need to recap — knowing A Christmas Carol, you can sit back and enjoy the antics on stage.

LuAnn Buckstein and Karen Slack | Photo: Gail Marie Bransteitter

A fast-moving script

The script, often tongue-in-cheek, is fast-paced and crisp. Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a rich and detailed novella that typically spans 80 to 100 pages. Playwrights Greenberg and Rosen managed to distill this verbose and intricate story into a compact and engaging 90-minute performance. It captures the essence of original while adding their own unique and humorous twist. Much local recognition is infused in the script, adding another level of satire.

Burge’s comedic direction infuses Ebenezer Scrooge with an energetic and playful spirit, enhancing the production and delighting the audience. Under his capable handling, the production seamlessly blends humor and heart in a vibrant and engaging production that captures the audience from start to finish. (Overall, the scenes with Tiny Tim are some of the funniest moments I have seen recently on stage.)

All-female cast

Saving the best for last, the absolute powerhouse behind Ebenezer Scrooge is the praiseworthy group of five actors who bring the story to life. The five women define ensemble acting — they are a well-oiled machine on stage together, never missing an opportunity to play it for laughs.

Karen Slack, as Scrooge, leads the pack. It is not often that an actor and a role mesh so perfectly that they are synonymous with the character. Slack has done this ten-fold. Watching Slack’s precision in playing Scrooge is a powerful combination of deep-seated “Scrooge” hostility and comedic high jinks. Down to the character’s unique way of walking, Slack gives a tour de Force performance as the old miser.

Along for the ride are LuAnn Buckstein (The Ghost of Christmas Past and others); Sonsharae Tull (The Ghost of Christmas Present and others); Janae Burris (The Ghost of Christmas Yet-to-Come and others); and Min Kyung (Cecillia) Kim (Bob Cratchit and others). Each woman shows their true colors as a gifted comedian, adding spice to the script and direction. Using a company of all women is a testament to their ability to bring to life multiple characters on stage – and they do so magnificently.

At only 90 minutes, Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big Aurora Fox Christmas Show is appropriate for all ages. The young and old will delight in this fast-paced entry into the other existing adaptations of A Christmas Carol, which are currently on stage around town. This one’s a keeper!