The Cast Photo by Mikki Schaffner

A soundtrack of dulcet Christmas music played by a brass quartet sets the mood preshow, and the production features a dozen or so carols sung by the fine-voiced cast of more than two dozen actors, a number of whom play multiple roles. It's noteworthy that many of them are familiar local theatre professionals, and several have played these roles before, especially Ryan Wesley Gilreath as nervous, sentimental Bob Cratchit and Kelly Mengelkoch as pragmatic, long-suffering Mrs. Cratchit. Darnell Pierre Benjamin is Scrooge's persistent, well-wishing nephew Fred as well as a schoolmaster for Scrooge as a boy. (Benjamin can also be spotted riding a precarious, old-fashioned two-wheeler in one of the numerous street scenes.) Maggie Lou Rader is an effervescent Ghost of Christmas Past in a sleigh, accompanied by a flock of hovering dove puppets. Ken Early is the ebullient Mr. Fezziwig (and later the boisterous Ghost of Christmas Present); Burgess Byrd delivers a saucy Mrs. Fezziwig.

Andrew May returns again as Scrooge. His performance–at first a whirlwind of fury at the imagined injustices perpetrated on his business and life by Christmas celebrations, and then a post-dream, spinning top of giddiness, jauntily kicking up his right heel–proves entertaining especially in his conversion into a man who loves Christmas.

This continues to be a dazzling production, making full use of the new mainstage's features, especially with scenery that flies in and tracked scenic elements that swiftly slide on and off. Each of Scrooge's nightmare lessons play out with knee-deep fog. An immense clockface spins and whirls to designate the passage of Scrooge's night of lessons, and his bedstead proves to be a portal for Jacob Marley's clanking, bellowing ghost (Jefferson A. Russel) as well as Scrooge's tombstone, an element that seals his conversion. The stage is framed by menacing brick walls, darkened with coal dust, and a trestle overhead that clearly indicates that Scrooge does not live in a posh neighborhood. Street lamps with flickering flames line the street.

The production flies by in just under two hours, including a 20-minute intermission. A few scenes feel hurried–especially one with three servants hoping to sell off some of Scrooge's belongings to "Old Joe," a ragpicker, which breezes by much of the possible humor. Parents with young children might be cautioned about the appearance of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, a towering, black-cloaked figure with glowing red eyes and bony hands. It's a great puppet, but it's definitely creepy.

All in all, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park continues its strong tradition with this seasonal favorite. Tiny Tim (Evie Gomez) will melt the hearts of the most curmudgeonly theatregoers with his final declaration of "God bless us, everyone!"

A Christmas Carol runs through December 29, 2025, at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, 972 Mt. Adams Circle in Eden Park, adjacent to Mt. Adams, Cincinnati OH. For tickets and information, please visit cincyplay.com or call 513-421-3888.