SCR’s ‘Christmas Carol’ Is Sheer Hal : After 17 Years, Landon Remains a Scrooge for the Ages--and Is the Main Reason to See This Production

If you’re looking for a classic holiday tale performed by a large cast and you don’t want to sit next to a Trekker, head on over to South Coast Repertory for its annual production of “A Christmas Carol.” (By contrast, the one-man version by Patrick [Capt. Jean-Luc Picard] Stewart can be seen at the Doolittle in Los Angeles through Dec. 22.)

SCR is rolling out its staging of the Dickens tale for the 17th yuletide. Though the production does look a little weary (sets: ugly; crowd scenes: stilted), this “Carol” offers both a smart adaptation by Jerry Patch and one terrific Scrooge.

Hal Landon Jr. has performed the part for each of the 17 years. This is the first time I’ve seen him, and he is so specific and real that I found myself transfixed all over again by the story of the wizened miser whose heart is miraculously opened by three ghosts (or, in this Freudian age, the reawakening of id, ego and superego). In Patch’s version, Scrooge is saved not by a holy trinity, but by reconnecting with his young, undefended self and by really seeing the people around him.

When Scrooge awakens from the long, dark, terrifying Christmas Eve night to the pure joy of refinding his soul, Landon somersaults on his bed and lands with his top hat planted on his head. His delight is true and connected; he avoids all the cliches and manages to remind us why this tale is so darned enduring.

*

Most of the rest of the adult cast is fine, particularly John Ellington’s stolidly kind Cratchit. Most of the child actors are pitifully bad, though that shouldn’t bother family audiences during the holiday season. Every large crowd scene looks too choreographed, but director John-David Keller does much better with the smaller scenes, such as the one in which three hags (Martha McFarland, Susannah Schulman, Debbie Grattan) auction off stolen items from Scrooge’s wardrobe to the Fagin-like Joe (Art Koustik). This scene is tight, picturesque and funny.

Other oddities: The ghost of Christmas Present (Ron Boussom) comes on as some kind of red-cheeked merry drunk, prancing around in a most bizarre manner. Also, when Scrooge throws open his window on Christmas day, it’s pitch black outside.

Ah, well, it’s Christmas, and Landon’s Scrooge will make you forgive everything. His sage performance reminds us of the hundreds of small ways we close off our hearts as we grow older.

* “A Christmas Carol,” South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Tuesdays-Fridays, 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; Sundays and Dec. 24, noon and 4 p.m. Ends Dec. 24. $14-$34; $8 off for children under 12 (except Fridays and Saturdays). (714) 957-4033. Running time: 2 hours with intermission.

With: Susannah Schulman, Art Koustik, Debbie Grattan, Benton Jennings Melbourne, Richard Soto, Ron Boussom, Elizabeth Muratalla, Michael Aparicio, Jon-Tristan Poper, Connor Ficcadenti, Hal Landon Jr., Devon Raymond, Caroline Landon, Paisley McCollum, James Kruk, John Ellington, Benjamin Livingston, John-David Keller, Martha McFarland, Don Took, Richard Doyle, Marisa De Paula, Amy Lang, Jonathan Lau, Jonathan Goldberg, Jessi DeNaut, Juliane Caillouette, Matt Reiff, Casey Verst, Sarah Doyle, Brianna Ficcadenti, Joey Valenti, Chase Caillouette.

A South Coast Repertory production. Adapted by Jerry Patch from Charles Dickens. Directed by John-David Keller. Sets: Cliff Faulkner. Costumes: Dwight Richard Odle. Lights: Donna and Tom Ruzika. Sound: Garth Hemphill. Music director: Dennis Castellano. Choreographer: Linda Kostalik. Production manager: Michael Mora. Stage manager: Scott Harrison.