“Bah Humbug!” As much as I hate it when Christmas arrives in November, (can’t we just enjoy Thanksgiving?) it’s hard not to highlight downtown theater legend Everett Quinton’s turn as our favorite holiday curmudgeon, Ebenezer Scrooge, in Reid Farrington’s A Christmas Carol at Abrons Arts Center.
Given his background in new media (a la the world-renowned Wooster Group), Farrington’s Carol conjures up Dickens’ memorable ghosts of the past, present and future in a “Victorian-era phantasmagoria” that promises to mash together over one hundred years of film history with live theater. Thirty-five different film versions of A Christmas Carol are projected on stage using a “modern-day version of the magic lantern, colliding and combining with the live performers.” Watch out for images of your favorite Scrooge including cameos from Mr. Magoo, The Muppets and Bill Murray.
Five performers play all the parts; that should be worth the price of admission alone. But then there is Everett Quinton, ye of The Ridiculous Theatrical Company–and a pioneer of the queer theater movement. I, for one, can’t wait to see his transformation. “God bless us every one!”
Reid Farrington’s A Christmas Carol Featuring Everett Quinton // Abrons Arts Center – 466 Grand St. // November 24 – December 23 // Thursday – Saturday, 8pm / Sunday, 3pm / $25 adults, $15 students, seniors.
