THE OG CHRISTMAS GHOST STORY

The Goodman puts the chills back in the chestnuts

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In some ways, it is remarkable that Goodman Theatre’s annual production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has persisted as a theatrical tradition during the holidays. Theatre is expensive as a rule and Goodman productions even more so. There are hundreds of adaptations of the story across pretty much every form of media, and the tale is so ubiquitously referenced that the main character’s name transitioned into an eponym and was logged in the OED as a common noun almost eighty years ago. One would have thought that people would be bored of it by now, but every holiday season, for the last forty-eight(!) years, eager theatregoers throng the doors of the Goodman Theatre and settle in to watch it come to life onstage one more time.

Christopher DonahueElla Boparai, Viva Boresi, Brian Goodwin, Chris Khoshaba, Gregory Hirte, Bethany Thomas,
Austin Tichenor, Benjamin Heppner, Jalbelly Guzman, Christiana Clark, Daniel José Molina,
Robert Schleifer, Jazzlyn Luckett Aderele, Jon Hudson Odom.

Part of its charm is that the Goodman doesn’t mess with the show: there are no meta takes, no radical new reinterpretations, no puppet casts — although I adore The Muppet Christmas Carol (shut up!). It’s a faithful adaptation of the story, give or take a few minor changes (Fred Scrooge is Frieda Scrooge this year) that widen the casting net without fundamentally altering the tale.

Jon Hudson Odom, Ella Boparai, Carmelo Kelly, Viva Boresi,
Bethany Thomas, A’mia Imani, Henry Lombardo, Sól Fuller, Helen Joo LeeChristopher Donahue, Jon Hudson Odom, Amira Danan.

This year’s production features some gorgeous sets by Todd Rosenthal. Rather than utilize the entire stage, Rosenthal’s constructions slide in as individual interiors, each one looking like a beautiful, intricate Christmas ornament (or one of those houses in the tabletop Christmas villages). It’s all lovely, although my “ooh” moment from the show featured its simplest frame: Scrooge and one of the ghosts all alone with a starry night sky behind them.

(back) Carmelo Kelly, Chris Khoshaba, Viva Boresi, Jon Hudson Odom,
Henry Lombardo, A’mia Imani, (front) Ella Boparai, Christopher Donahue

Christopher Donahue, in his second go at the part, is a very fine Scrooge — all loose-limbed grace and rubber-faced (Ashland Avenue‘s Chiké Johnson plays Scrooge for some performances). Donahue’s grouchiness is more charming than menacing, which is just as well because this is an unexpectedly scary Carol. The visitation of Jacob Marley would not be out of place in an old-school horror flick. Even the cheery Ghost of Christmas Present has a terrifying moment that’s cribbed from the 1951 Christmas Carol with Alastair Sim (the scene traumatized me as a child). The lighting design by Keith Parham does a lot of heavy lifting here, reaching its peak in a stunning tableau with an almost motionless Ghost of Christmas Future and Scrooge alone on an empty fog-bound stage.

Ella Boparai, Viva Boresi, Robert Schleifer, A’mia Imani, Carmelo KellyChristopher Donahue, Daniel José Molina

I was also pleased to see director Malkia Stampley leaning hard into the socioeconomic commentary of the original story, and even if she occasionally falls into the trap of romanticizing the poverty of the Cratchits, the rest of the show never forgets to remind us of the harshness of the world towards its indigent and our obligation to help whenever we can. Dickens, whose impoverished childhood informed a great deal of his stories, would have approved.

Chris Khoshaba, Sól Fuller, Helen Joo Lee, Brian Goodwin,
Viva Boresi, A’mia Imani, Austin Tichenor, Isabelle MuthiahSól Fuller, Christopher Donahue, Lucky Stiff

I don’t mean to make the show sound gloomy. It’s not. Beautifully costumed by Heidi Sue McMath, this is a delightful and handsomely mounted show with a spry, energetic cast. The Goodman knows what it’s doing — the Scrooge in me says, “After 48 years, they ought to”; the Cratchit in me says, “Isn’t it wonderful that after 48 years they’ve still got the magic?” — but the real enchantment here is in the communal experience. Sharing a joyous moment with friends, family, and strangers — some newbies, some old hats — to be (hopefully) relived the next year, and the year after that. That’s what the holidays are about.

And without a humbug in sight. God bless us, everyone!

Helen Joo Lee, Brian Goodwin, Sól Fuller, Austin Tichenor,
Viva Boresi, Chris Khoshaba, Anthony Irons, Elleon Dobias

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photos by Brett Beiner

A Christmas Carol
Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St.
ends on December 31, 2025
for tickets ($44–$173, subject to change), call 312.443.3800, or visit Goodman

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