HOLIDAY THEATER REVIEWS : Gospelized Dickens at San Diego Rep

Forget the quaint Victorian picture postcards often conjured by “A Christmas Carol.” The San Diego Repertory Theatre has put a modern twist into Dickens’ novella by setting it in 1993 and telling the story in rafter-raising gospel songs.

It’s an inspired alliance. The show, called “A Christmas Carol: The Musical Gospel According to Dickens,” begins with a minister telling his congregation the tale of rich, stingy Scrooge.

Osayandi Baruti, the driving force behind this vision, adapted the piece with Douglas Jacobs, co-directed with Sam Woodhouse, choreographed, arranged and wrote more than half of the stirring, original songs--many of which carry the story along by incorporating Dickens’ own words as lyrics.

The show dares to set as its goal nothing less than the reclamation of the soul. Thanks to Baruti, Jacobs and Woodhouse, and a wonderfully talented ensemble of 14 actors/singers/acrobats/dancers in 47 roles, it succeeds.

* “A Christmas Carol: The Musical Gospel According to Dickens,” San Diego Repertory Theatre at Lyceum Stage, 79 Horton Plaza, San Diego. Today, 1 and 8 p.m.; Thur.-Fri., also Tue.-Dec. 18, Dec. 21, 23, 8 p.m.; this Sun., also Dec. 19, 24, 26, 2 and 7 p.m.; Sat., also Dec. 22, 2 and 8 p.m.; dark Dec. 25. Ends Dec. 26. $18-$24. (619) 235-8025. Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes.