In what has quickly become a Melbourne festive season tradition, the blockbuster production, A Christmas Carol, returns for a third year this Christmas. Dickens’ classic, heart-warming tale tells the story of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Christmas Yet to Come, who teach him about benevolence, charity, and goodwill.
Actor Tim Wright (Groundhog Day, Mama Mia!) joins the cast for the very first time and plays the overworked, underpaid clerk of Scrooge, Bob Cratchit.
“Bob works for Scrooge, as his clerk. He is pretty much the antithesis of Scrooge. Bob is happily married. He has children. He is poor. And he loves Christmas. Life is a struggle for Bob, but everything he does, he does for his family. He is kind. He is forgiving and he is incredibly grateful for what he has. He and his family also play a significant role in Scrooge’s awakening. He’s a beautiful character and I can’t wait to fully discover him.”
For Wright, the key to Cratchit is his selflessness. His heart. “I love that the audience get to see different sides of him: from being in an oppressive, fearful state at work, to how alive he is with his family. It’s very real. I admire his ability to see the good and to be grateful.”
The magic of A Christmas Carol draws both audiences and actors alike. Wright saw the show last year and thought it a really beautiful production and that if the opportunity ever came up, he would love to be a part of it.
“It’s also the same producers and Director as Groundhog Day, which was a life-changing show, for me. They are people I’m very keen to work with again. The story is a reminder to live your best life, with the positive impact that can have on the lives of others. That’s something I continue to strive for.”
Bernard Curry (Savage River, Wentworth) had played Bob Cratchit over the last two seasons and this incarnation will have many of the past ensemble cast members returning. Wright says they are only just beginning rehearsals, but a personal challenge is that he is one of a handful of new cast members. “That means I’m gonna be a bit behind quite a few people who already know the material, the music, the songs, the dance. That’s going to be challenging. And the bells!! BUT It’s also very exciting to have that support. I’m most excited to meet the company and to play and discover!”
It has been a little over 180 years since Dickens’ classic novel and it is obvious that there is no denying its longevity. The story of Scrooge and his ghosts continues to be beloved by audiences all over the world, but does Wright believe this audience expectation brings an added responsibility to the actor to ‘get it right’.
“I always feel a responsibility to the piece, to the people I am working with and to the people who come to see it. I don’t think that carries any more weight with this particular production. You always want to do your best work and help to make the piece the best that it can be. As for the story of Scrooge and his ghosts I think we’d all like the chance to see where our choices may be leading us. It’s a great device to show us what has led Scrooge to his current situation and take him beyond his own circumstance to see the impact it has had, and could still have, on other people’s lives.”
Like many of us, Christmas, for Wright, is a time to be with friends and family and to fill up on joy. “As a parent, the thing that gives me the most joy is bringing happiness to our kids. It’s magical: The gift is in the giving!
It’s also a time for reflection: Are we grateful for what we have? Do we want more from life? Could we be kinder to others? I think our story will start a lot of conversations around that. Scrooge gets to see the consequences of his actions, past, present and possible future and is given the opportunity to make better choices for a better future, for himself and the people in his life. I think A Christmas Carol shows us that it’s not too late to change.”
Wright has appeared in multiple Broadway productions, including the 2022/23 Tony Award winning Revival of Richard Greenberg’s Take Me Out, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Tony Award: Best New Play) and The Bridges of Maddison County. Other US stage credits include The Jungle, Sunset Boulevard and 3 Kinds of Exile. In Australia Wright has worked for the Melbourne Theatre Company in Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Metamorphoses, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and The Glass Menagerie.
As an actor he loves the surprise, the turns. “I love when something happens that the audience had not seen coming. I love the connection with the audience and the shared experience.” And as far as characters go……”I do quite enjoy playing the bad guy, but it’s not something that happens very often. That said, every character has depth, has different sides to their personality. To explore that! And stories that provoke thought, while they entertain.”
Winner of five Tony Awards®, the smash-hit Old Vic production of Charles Dickens’ immortal classic is conceived and directed by Matthew Warchus (Matilda the Musical) and adapted for the stage by Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), audiences are welcomed into an immersive experience, brimming with music and merriment.
Says Wright, “You will not be disappointed. It’s a beautiful show with an amazing company. I know quite a few people, for whom, seeing this show has become a new Christmas tradition. It’s a great way to remind us of all the good we have and to look at what we could maybe do better. It’s a privilege to share it with Melbourne audiences and an experience I’m sure they will be grateful to share with the ones they love.”
A Christmas Carol will play for a strictly limited festive season at the Comedy Theatre from 22 November 2024, with tickets now on sale at christmascarolaustralia.com.au
Image: Jeff Busby
