Full disclosure: I’ve never seen a staged version of A Christmas Carol. And while I did watch the 1951 Alastair Sim movie once years ago, I think I nodded off. Ditto the 1992 Muppet version (I know, pretty pathetic). But there’s nothing like a Shaw Festival production to keep you engaged, enthralled, and so ready for the holiday season. This one – now onstage at the Royal George Theatre – is no exception. It’s absolutely charming and I loved every minute of it.

The fun begins in the house with members of the cast tossing faux snowballs at each other across the aisles while the house lights are still up. Too much fun. Then the lovely voice of Katie Ryerson leads the cast and audience alike in singing some traditional Christmas carols. If this doesn’t set the perfect mood, well, then, you are indeed a Scrooge or maybe even a Grinch. (Oops, sorry, wrong story.)

Even if you’re like me and didn’t make it through the movie, no doubt you read the novella in your high school English class or at least you know the plot. Grumpy shilling-pincher Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his equally-evil former business partner Marley on Christmas eve with his warning of three spirits to follow. Even the worst curmudgeon would hate seeing what he saw. Inspiration and reflection are always the best catalysts for change, and so change he does. By doing so, he changes the lives of the people around him who desperately needed something more than hope.

It’s the journey to that end that is oh so fun. In Shaw Festival tradition, the costumes and look of the production are period-perfect, with a little twist. I loved the set that resembled the street outside the theatre doors, down to the clock tower. Christine Luhre’s vision for the set was a wonderful balance of lightly muted pinks and blues that managed to have a rich color saturation, like the loveliest watercolor you could imagine. And the set – numbered like an advent calendar – had doors which opened and even came off to serve as points of entry/egress and set pieces. Very clever and effective.

Director Tim Carroll worked in some glorious theatre magic into the staging, too. There were giant puppets roaming about and stick puppets poking out the top of the set. Christmas Past (Gabriella Sundar Singh) came swinging in (on an actual swing) and pulled down the moon which eerily and wonderfully spun on a stick. Christmas Present (Kristopher Bowman) played with time hopping language and was super fun, riding onto the stage on ‘wheelies’ and a spark of goofiness. Piles of presents became people when Scrooge pulled the curtains away from his bed and yes, it was something of a happy jump-scare. (See what you missed, Theatre Companion?) What I love best of all was how the actors themselves were often the set pieces and props, holding bits and bobs to suggest furnishings. My favorite was Patty Jamieson as Scrooge’s desktop: watch her facial expressions transform from glum to gleeful! That made the story for me.

It’s the ensemble that gives the show it’s life. Sanjay Talwar as Scrooge has all the gristle of atough holiday beast who (spoiler alert) transforms into sugar plum sweetness. The Cratchits (Ryerson as Mrs and Travis Seetoo as Bob) were spirited and loving. Jay Turvey was the avuncular Fred, full of Christmas spirit. Each cast member was a joy to watch. When some elements are left simple, you can focus more acutely on the things that are more meaningful. My only disappointment were the puppets that played the Cratchit children, including Tiny Tim. Something about looking into creepy painted puppet eyes, even when hearing Tiny Tim’s signature phrase, was anticlimactic.

Cast members were also the musical interlude: the act II “Carol of the Bells,” played on handbells, two glockenspiels, and jingle bells was a lovely transition, too. The anecdotal singing was a cappella and perfection. It contributed to a mood and a feeling and it was all so good.

And leave it to the perfect planning of this Shaw Festival production team: when the Sunday matinee ended and the back doors were open to let us leave, there were big flakes of snow falling from a grey November sky. Now that’s how to welcome in the holidays!

A Christmas Carol is onstage at the Royal George Theatre until December 21. This lovely more-than-a-century-old Edwardian jewelbox will shut down for a time for full overhaul, so don’t miss this opportunity to see it one last time as it is. Also, make time to read the playbill. There’s some enjoyable insight into the production and the theatre’s history. Tim Carroll, the artistic director’s introductory article drives some good points home, too. Find tickets and details at https://www.shawfest.com/playbill/a-christmas-carol-2025/.