It has been said that much of our contemporary idea about Christmas (Albert and the Tree aside) derives from Dickens’ Christmas stories. For example the idea of a land muffled with snow at Christmas was as rare in Victorian times as it is today, but Dickens’ imaginative contrast between the bleak outside (and outsider) and the cosy glow of the familial hearth has resonated at various and powerful levels down to today.

It would be difficult to reinterpret a story with such a strong and clear message. Notwithstanding, Tom Morris has deconstructed the tale with half an eye on contemporary Britain, putting it back together with message intact and throbbing with seasonal cheer and timeless relevance. One of the best non-Dickensian lines comes when the freshly jollified Scrooge bumps into old flame Belle (Crystal Condie) and half humorously in his old character quips, ‘Don’t tell me she ended up with a fundraiser!’.

The production’s lightness of touch is set by a chorus of the un-dead, which starts the show and introduces Dickens’ narrative voice at Marley’s funeral. Director, Lee Lyford and Mr Morris’s benign liberties include having Bob Cratchit (Nadia Nadarajah) speaking in British Sign Language (BSL) – referred to by Scrooge as ‘wavy language’. Again, shopping trolleys and a reference to food banks remind us with a gentle nudge in the ribs (and pocket) that it is not merely Victorian ‘want’ that we should be reminded of at this time of year.

Felix Hayes’ Scrooge very cleverly spans the ages. Whilst clearly Dickens’ misanthropic creation, there is enough in his performance to chime, chillingly, with someone at the sharp end of present-day financial services. This is not the desiccated old curmudgeon we might expect, but someone who apparently relishes sticking the financial boot in. Mr Hayes’ roast-beef-and-plenty-of-gravy voice oozes a joyful malignancy with threats of foreclosure and penury. Yet his misanthropy becomes him not half so well as his leaving it. The new Scrooge we can imagine spending his time worrying about new ways to spread the joy whilst in any spare time writing a book on Hygge.

The cast go about the story with multi-talented, music and song energy. Scrooge’s nephew, Freddie (Saikat Ahamed) has enough good humour and optimism to float the SS Great Britain – even on his deathbed. Designer, Tom Rogers has given the ghost of Christmas Present (Gwyneth Herbert) a scarlet, Vivienne Westwood meets Bette Midler look, which feeds into her full-on, joy-to-the-world performance. And of course Tiny Tim is there at the end to pluck on any heartstrings as yet unmoved.

At the end of its Year of Change the Old Vic has produced a Christmas tonic for the age and all ages, which sets the tone for the festive season.

★★★★☆   Graham Wyles  6^th December 2018