Scrooge @ Liverpool Empire

Tommy Steele makes his stage return in the Bill Kenwright produced "Scrooge!"

Basic on the Dickens classic, Scrooge tells the tale of old Ebenezer Scrooge, an old skinflint of a man who refuses to celebrate Christmas. He is interested only in his money and will stop at nothing to earn as much of it as he can. One Christmas eve he is visited by the spirit of his old friend and business partner, Jacob Marley, who warns Scrooge that he must change his act now or face the eternity of his afterlife in chains begging for remorse. What follows, is a visit from three Christmas ghosts who show Scrooge how he must change his life.

The set, for a Kenwright production is excellent. It is extravagant - it looks, and feels like old Victorian England - with the exception of a backdrop which separates Scrooges counting house from the outside. It blows backwards and forwards during a pivotal scene in the story and is quite distracting to the audience. The costumes however are exceptional - the attention to detail is excellent, particularly to the three ghosts.

The thing that sets this apart from other Christmas shows out there are the illusions. There are tricks aplenty, from ghosts appearing and disappearing onto the stage, appearing from apparant solid walls, and quick changes that would impress David Blaine! A definate highlight of the evening - many a child will leave this show wondering how some of the tricks were done!

Tommy Steele in the leading role is good - the audience love the man who has been performing on the British stage for the past few decades. What he lacks in vocal strength, he more than makes up for in charisma, and he balances the greed with the humour very well. Other cast members are good.

Some minor flaws in the show was some lines being forgotten by some of the cast, sound problems caused by the theatres system and the lack of power in some of the casts voices. The child cast members, were also sub-par which took away from the emotion of the story.

The score, whilst not very memorable, added a new dynamic to this well-known story. The songs are written moderately well, and sang adequately. They don't really move the story along, but in a show like Scrooge, they do add to the party, Christmas atmosphere in the auditorium.

A good Christmas romp!

7/10