A Christmas Carol
at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School

Reviewed on December 13, 2013

Liz Gross
Ridley College
Submitted for publication to

With theatrical whimsy, sonorous instrumentals, and all the hustle and bustle of 19th century London, Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School's production of A Christmas Carol: The Musical breathed new life into one of the most revered stories in all of English literature. A timeless tale of redemption and awakened compassion, Sir Winston's spirited performance brimmed with festive energy and all the richness of a Christmas pudding.

Based on the beloved 1843 novella by Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol was adapted for the stage by Mike Ockrent and Lynn Ahrens with musical arrangements by Alan Menken. In the heart of Victorian London one Christmas Eve, A Christmas Carol revolves around the fateful transformation of history's most famous humbug: Ebenezer Scrooge. Three ghostly apparitions force the grizzled curmudgeon to take a contemplative look at Christmases past, present and future in hopes of convincing the penny-pincher to change his selfish and callously apathetic ways, demonstrating that they could chain Scrooge to a future of eternal suffering and torment.

A talented orchestra and high-energy performers proved invaluable to the resounding success of the production. From the tuneful swells of "A Jolly Good Time" to the lamenting "Dancing on Your Grave", the pit band of 25 instrumentalists provided a near-constant musical underscore that was both layered and resonant. Tackling complex choreography and frequent costume changes, the enthusiastic cast infused the production with merriment and a tangible sense of unity.

As Scrooge, Mitchell Glass was appropriately cantankerous and high-handed. His powerful baritone, polished sarcasm and spot-on British accent anchored the show, imbuing old Ebenezer with cynicism and commanding authority. Masterful character presentation allowed Glass to believably transition from Scrooge's trademark glowering and hard-hearted scorn to holiday giddiness and zealous philanthropy.

In the role of the Ghost of Christmas Past, Valseca deGroot was the picture of grace and enchantment; her mellifluous rendition of "Lights of Long Ago" illustrated scenes from Scrooge's painful past with "a twinkle and a glow". As Scrooge's underpaid and long-abused employee, Bob Crachit, Luc Leblanc's nuanced performance nimbly balanced the character's mild compliance with his unwavering familial devotion. Scrooge's former employer, the jovial Mr. Fezziwig (Dalton Maracle) and his wife, Mrs. Fezziwig (Skylar Bough), enlivened the production with their rambunctious comedy and fleet-footed dancing ability.

All props and set pieces – from snow-clad windowsills to dilapidated tombstones – were versatile and elaborately detailed, adding to the vibrancy and realism of the production. Despite a few muffled microphones and volume issues, technical effects were timely and effective. With warmth in the more upbeat musical numbers and frosty illumination in scenes of misfortune and isolation, well-controlled lighting expertly reflected the varying moods of the story.

In this day and age, it's so easy to be swept away in all the material trappings of the holiday season that the real meaning of Christmas is all too often forgotten. Sir Winston Churchill's heartwarming interpretation of A Christmas Carol reminded the audience that values of love and generosity are what make the Christmas spirit truly priceless.

Helena Ma
Lakeshore Catholic High School
Submitted for publication to

There is no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than viewing a well-executed musical take on the Charles Dickens classic novella, A Christmas Carol. The students of Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School proved they could bring together an enjoyable and memorable production in the short time frame of nine weeks. The cast opened the show in a way that immersed the audience in a well-honed Victorian atmosphere filled with impressive student crafted props and sets.

Some actors wore microphones subtly indicating the more dominant characters. One such character was protagonist Ebenezer Scrooge. Mitchell Glass could not have been a better fit for the iconic lead role. He gave weight and purpose to Scrooge's presence on the stage and familiarized the viewer with his curmudgeonly personality in a matter of seconds. Glass's singing served to wonderfully enhance his portrayal. He took the self-absorbed, cold and seemingly unaffected emotions Scrooge had and used that to set his tone while singing, allowing his voice to have a rough and even angry sound. He was also able to keep his accent intact while singing adding another level of authenticity to his portrayal.

As the show progressed, Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past played by Valseca deGroot. Her adaptation of this ghost was one replete with peace and warmth. Valseca's acting was not the only thing that was impressive. Her singing was beautiful and had a lovely natural vibrato. Every note she sang was spot on and she definitely became the most memorable voice from the show.

The first act concluded on a very high, energetic note. SWC brought the audience to the Fezziwig ball where a very big, captivating song was performed with nicely fitting choreography. This bright and upbeat number was lead by Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig (Dalton Maracle and Skylar Bough). Their interplay came across as very natural. It was almost as if they were not acting at all. The singing of Maracle and Bough surpassed expectations, especially when they continued to sing while also performing fast, high-energy dance moves. The Fezziwig ball was a perfect way to end the first act and leave the audience in full anticipation of the second.

During the second act you could see that the actors became even more comfortable in the skin of their characters. While the first act was by no means disappointing, the singing was evidently stronger and any slight hint of insecurity had vanished. With the entrance of the Ghost of Christmas Future (Emma Ferreira), came a smooth, seemingly effortless dance which worked to persuade Scrooge to his change in personality. Scrooge's progression from a character that is selfish to one which cares for others was very well-performed, well-paced and entirely believable. The production closed with a number performed by the entire cast which sent chills through the audience. Their harmonies were perfection serving to finish the show on a triumphant note filled with a warm and festive feeling.

Maggie Lalonde
Welland Centennial
Submitted for publication to

Age Old Tale Comes to Life This Christmas

Despite having been portrayed countless times on many stages, the cast of Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School's performance of A Christmas Carol breathed new life into the age old tale of sadness and lessons learned. Written in 1843 by Charles Dickens, the story follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a greedy, unhappy man who realizes that there are more important things in life than wealth.

With a white-knuckled grip on his cane, Mitchell Glass, portraying Ebenezer Scrooge, stole the show with his riveting performance and incredible vocals. His performance as Scrooge knew no bounds, and Glass proved his plethora of talents by delivering humorous lines with ease; his interactions with the village folk had the audience laughing. Glass's ability to react to the events around him was phenomenal and was one of his greatest strengths.

Glass' performance was supported by the ghosts of Christmas past (Valseca deGroot), present (Cole Saari), and future (Emma Ferreira). deGroot demonstrated extraordinary vocal talent, and her sweet, melodic voice carried over the audience with ease, immersing them in the experience. The singing by all three ghosts was nothing short of astonishing. Luc Leblanc, as Cratchit, exuded a fatherly vibe, and blew the audience away with his rock-solid performance and heart-wrenching rendition of "You Mean More to Me."

With chemistry as incredible as their vocals, Emily (Heidi Stricko) and young Scrooge (Jacob Johnson) took the stage for an emotional portrayal of Scrooge's past love life. The two played off each other effortlessly, drawing the audience in for a poignant performance.

Malfunctioning microphones drew the audience's attention at certain parts of the performance, but these problems were resolved quickly by the tech crew, and were nearly eradicated in the second half of the play. Despite the technical difficulties, the actors never strayed from the task at hand and quickly diverted the audience's attention away from the microphones and back to the performance.

Before the cast took their well-deserved bows, the final number, "Christmas Together," solidified the cast's rock-solid performing skills and choreography, as well as their impressive talent at remaining in character. The audience's hearts are sure to soar with this well-delivered number and its catchy tunes, animated cast, and creative costumes.

The atmosphere in the theatre was palpable as people were drawn into the show and watched, awed, as Scrooge became both amiable and charitable. Hearts rose and fell with his triumphs and failures, and the ending delivered a clear message about second chances. The effort and passion that went into this musical was conspicuous, and every single cast member should be proud of their work.