If it’s the Friday after Thanksgiving, then regular readers of Balladeer’s Blog know it’s the day when I kick off my annual Christmas Carol-A-Thon in which I review several versions of A Christmas Carol. I look at movies, television shows, radio shows and books which adapt the Dickens classic. Every year I present new reviews with a few old classics mixed in since newer readers will have missed them.
THE PASSION OF SCROOGE (2018) – This 62-minute offering which is out on video is one of the opera versions of A Christmas Carol, NOT the x-rated version which is titled The Passions of Carol. I want to avoid any confusion, right off the bat.
This Carol opera was written and composed by Jon Deak, who also stars in the production alongside William Sharp. H. Paul Moon directed. Unlike the opera versions that I’ve reviewed in the past, no one wears period costumes, just dark colored timeless garb.
The 21st Century Consort Orchestra provides the music and though the horseshoe layout for the orchestra and the conductor (Christopher Kendall) is business as usual the execution certainly is not.
The Passion of Scrooge tries a little too hard to be experimental with a capital E. In addition to going meta regarding the composing of the opera and Dickens’ work on writing the original story, this production often has the actors performing in front of black & white footage from the 1935 movie Scrooge.
Members of the orchestra depict extras and add little bits of business like pretending to feel the December cold in the story or laughing with good will during certain street or party scenes.
I don’t object to any of that, but Deak and company don’t really pull it off very well. Their offbeat approach took me out of the proceedings in a way that the dancing and dubbing in the 2021 Christmas Carol did not.
William Sharp carries the dramatic burden as Ebenezer Scrooge, and in support Jon Deak ranges from passable to fairly good. Obviously at the brief runtime the opera is a “no-frills”, cut-down version of the Dickens classic.
The Passion of Scrooge, as the title suggests, often focuses on the emotional pain of the title character as he goes through this draining ordeal. Deak uses the ancient “Enlightenment is only possible through suffering” approach as Ebenezer is forced to relive his melancholy past, face the kind of man he has become and get a glimpse of how – if he remains unchanged – his behavior will impact other people’s lives as well as how he is remembered.
It should go without saying that this oneiric and offbeat production is a must-see item for obsessive Carol-addicts like me. The Passion of Scrooge makes for a reasonable change of pace from more straightforward adaptations of A Christmas Carol at this time of year.
For casual viewers, on the other hand, there is not much here that is likely to appeal to them. Even the opera-curious may want to avoid this version because it might put them off operas for good. In my opinion, Thea Musgrave’s 1979 Christmas Carol opera is still the best such adaptation.
We’re just getting started! I’ll review plenty of excellent adaptations of A Christmas Carol as we go along!
FOR MORE VERSIONS OF A CHRISTMAS CAROL CLICK HERE: https://glitternight.com/category/a-christmas-carol-2/
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Lulu: “Of course ‘A Muppet Christmas Carol’ remains the definitive edition!”
I understand, Lulu!
Here we go! I’m a week late to your party this year, I thought you started Dec 1st but glad to see I got some catching up to do. I have heard of this one and it’s on my list to watch but haven’t pulled the trigger just yet. I was afraid it was too pretentious and wanted to wait for the right time to be sure it had a fair chance. Sounds like I was right. Maybe this’ll be the year for this one.
Thanks for your hard work and glad this series is back in action!
Thank you very much for such kind words! It’s good to hear from you again and, yes, the Friday after Thanksgiving is when my annual Christmas Carol-A-Thons kick off. You’ve given me great suggestions in the past for versions of A Christmas Carol!
Thanks! This year is light for new versions that I’m aware of but there are 2 new ones and other recent ones I’m just now discovering.
-We’re Scrooged (2023) – UPtv version, novel idea at least
-A Perfect Christmas Carol (2023) – no airdate/release as of now, description doesn’t sound like it’s Dickens but title has me piqued.
-Christmas Caorle (2022) – British version
Great! Thanks for the news!
Great posts as always. I haven’t heard about “The Passion of Scrooge” before but it definitely does sound interesting. It reminds me a lot of movies capturing the Christmas season I admire. It brings to mind the film “A Man Called Otto”. An underrated film capturing life of an old senior that’s pessimistic. Otto is similar towards Scrooge in that both share a negative outlook on life. Tom Hanks is extraordinary in the role, giving one of his best performances.
Here’s why it’s worth watching:
I appreciate the kind words. I’m on my way to your review of A Man Called Otto.