A Christmas Carol

Dickens' classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, the prototypical miser, and his redemption through the help of the Christmas spirits is color fully brought to the stage by a gifted set of players at Minneapolis' famed Guthrie Theatre. Using a clever framing device whereby Charles Dickens is able to serve as intermittent narrator, viewers are given a generous portion of Dickens' sparkling prose (often absent in straight dramatic adaptations). Filmed for the Entertainment Channel, the Guthrie production features eye- catching effects, as Scrooge and spirits blink on and off the stage, and characters flit in and out of the billowing fog. And the musical numbers are excellently choreographed and robustly performed by the large, talented cast. After George C. Scott's definitive portrayal of Scrooge for British television, it's questionable whether anyone will 'shine' in the role again, but Richard Hilger does a competent job. And J. Patrick Martin is wonderful in the role of Bob Cratchit, Scrooge's penniless clark. An excellent seasonal addition for public libraries. Recommended. (Available from: Apollo Video Corporation, 1230 Second Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55403).