A Christmas Carol @ Ohio Theatre, 11/27 What better way to be reminded of our better selves than to take in A Christmas Carol as provided by Great Lakes Theatre Festival? It's very kid-friendly (and not scary enough) because the action is framed within the setting of a story read by a mother to her children. Highlights Saturday included inventively imagined ghosts of Christmas present and future, street scenes with the full cast bouncing about and singing, Scott Plate as the lovable Bob Cratchit, Laura Perrotta as the sweet-as-pie Mother who starts the play off reading to her children, Phil Carroll as Fred, Andrew May in a bit part as a gayish "Topper," and all the adorable children. Aled Davies is new as Scrooge this year and he was appropriately crabby. At times the pace seemed slow, but it's still early (the show runs through Dec. 23) so as soon as the cast settles in, it should be just about perfect. And, won't it be great -- O Ghost of Christmas Future -- when we can see this re-imagined in the new Hanna Theatre digs? Ghosts rising up from the center? Vanishing in an instant? Bring it on.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Laura Kennelly lkennellyATgmail.com

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