Throughout this Christmas period Beehive Theatre Company once more entertained
Corca Dhuibhne and its visitors to a wonderfully entertaining production.
Their choice of Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' was an excellent one, as its
moral tale has never been as relevant, exposing the pitfalls of greed and
capitalism.
The direction of such a large cast of all ages and varying levels of experience must in itself be applauded and it showcased the community based nature of Beehive. The production was of a high quality, the art work by Seán Ó Treasaigh and effects by Chris May adding greatly to the play.
Malcolm George once more donned Mr. Scrooge's night cap, and created a delightfully horrible character, spitting out his 'Bah Humbug' with relish. He skilfully swung Mr. Scrooge from the extreme of pure malevolence to that of a 'giddy schoolboy' high on happiness, as he was led by the Spirits through the stages of his life.
Rachel Ní Fhionnáin's depiction of the Bag Lady gave the play it's comedic highlights. Her character might be described as a warped version of Molly Malone! Her facial expressions alone drew great laughter from the audience.
All in all, an excellent way to spend a Christmas holiday evening.
Review by Joanne Ní Shuilleabháin
In a most un-Scrooge-like manner, the profits from the final showing of the
Beehive Theatre's adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol"
were donated to Médecins sans Frontiéres. This entertaining
and heart-warming version of the Christmas classic was directed and produced
by Wendela Rosenberg Polak and Malcolm George.
Malcolm George's superb performance as the notoriously stingy Scrooge underpinned
the production and was complemented by a host of excellently cast characters.
Talent abounded on the stage. Notable was Aidan O' Shea's poignant performance
as Bob Cratchit the clerk; Ben Farr, as Scrooge's jocular nephew Fred; and
Rachel Fanning, who delighted the audience with her hilarious performance
as the rag and bone lady.
The ingenious use of set and props which has come to symbolise Beehive productions,
certainly did not disappoint on this occasion. A relatively small stage space
was cleverly manipulated to portray the various messages to Scrooge from the
spirits past, present and future. The inclusion of songs in Irish throughout
the play also added a credible statement to the Beehive's ability to make
the play their own.
In true festive spirit, the production symbolised a community effort, made
up of a diverse and multicultural cast, including Beehive stalwarts, children
from local schools and first time board treaders. All deserve to be congratulated
for their outstanding performance as do Wendela and Malcolm for another Beehive
success.