Jefferson Mays Brilliantly Captures the Magic of Charles Dickens in “A Christmas Carol”

Jefferson Mays in "A Christmas Carol" I Photo courtesy of A Christmas Carol Live.

The opinions reflected in this OpEd are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of staff, faculty and students of The King's College.

Jefferson Mays returns to Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre this Christmas season in a one-man adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” This iconic Christmas story has long been a favorite of theaters worldwide during the holidays. Broadway is joining in the nostalgia this year with a brilliant, unforgettable adaptation of the quintessential Christmas novel. This new adaptation is a triumph. Mays’ approach to storytelling is innovative and captivating, and the play remains faithful to Dickens’ book in every way. This production of “A Christmas Carol” is everything it ought to be: a heartwarming story full of laughs, tears and ghosts.

The miserable Ebenezer Scrooge is a ruthless businessman who shows no kindness to anyone — even his clerk, Bob Cratchit and his nephew, Fred. On Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley, who shows him the hellish fate that awaits him after death. Marley offers a path of redemption for Scrooge in the form of visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Throughout the terrifying night, Scrooge confronts his decisions, mends his ways and learns to find compassion for his fellow man. 

For annual readers of “A Christmas Carol,” this production does justice to the classic story, adapted from Dickens’ novel by Mays, his wife Susan Lyons and the show’s director, Michael Arden. Much of the dialogue and narration are taken directly from the original text.

The production of this adaptation is elaborate and visually stunning. Dane Laffrey’s set grounds Mays’ character acting and storytelling, making this new adaptation seem familiar and inviting. The attention to detail in the physical production is astounding, with every transition and location carefully planned and executed. The real star of the play’s technical brilliance is Ben Stanton’s lighting design, which captures the ghosts of Christmas and sets Scrooge’s story of redemption within the dark, dreary night that Dickens originally wrote for us. The entire show is clearly haunted, lit in a dark, ghostly glow that will enthrall and genuinely frighten you.

Jefferson Mays is a brilliant storyteller with a clear passion for getting this story right. Throughout the evening, he portrays 50 characters, each one bringing his story to life. This is a production of the “A Christmas Carol'' to be remembered and a must-see event this Christmas.

A Christmas Carol is currently running at the Nederlander Theatre until Jan. 1, 2023.

Eli Johnson is the Theatre Columnist for the Empire State Tribune. He is a freshman at The King's College majoring in Business. He is an avid theatre-goer and always enjoys a game of chess.