Christmastime is here. For many, it means the celebration of tried-and-true traditions that bring us closer to loved ones and warms our hearts with forgiveness and generosity.
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol captures that spirit as one of the holiday season’s most treasured stories. The Milwaukee Rep’s elaborate, magical production has graced the Pabst Theater stage for nearly 50 years, and it’s back until Dec. 24.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
But this year, Pink Umbrella is turning tradition on its head with its own one-person show at the Charles Allis Art Museum from Dec. 14-15. The idea came from the show’s performer, Clayton Mortl, and it’s inspired by Dickens himself, who would perform staged readings of the novella across England. Strip away the flair of most productions, and what’s left is an intimate, reimagined storytelling experience.
So, which carol will you attend – one of a traditional Christmas past or a nuanced present?
See the Rep’s if…
- Familiarity, like the return of Matt Daniels as Scrooge, brings comfort and joy.
- You love time-traveling to Victorian-era London, with its cobblestone streets and petticoated costumes.
- You delight in ensemble casts filling the stage and hearing songs sung by a chorus.
See Pink Umbrella’s if…
- You’re all about a unique experience! You prefer the quirky and find experimental theater more enthralling.
- You love intimate settings, with one person carrying out an ensemble play with voice recordings and live narration.
- You’re curious and discerning – will it be a hit or a miss?
