You will be aware that Opera Club and ESOS are jointly staging “Scrooge” at the end of November next year.  A number of people have asked me (Terry Foster writing) about the show as they don’t know it.

Well, of course, I think it’s a fabulous show (ignoring Tommy Steele’s recent effort…) but if you want to get to know it a little, you could do worse than see the film.  This is the time to buy it as the shops cannily reduce the price before Christmas!  (I spied it in Morrison’s last week for £4.99…we could turn this into a competition!)  Buy now: it’ll be back to £15 or so after Christmas.  

Unusually for our normal productions, “Scrooge” began life as a film musical and only later became a stage show.  Of course, we won’t be able to replicate absolutely everything they could do at the Shepperton Studios but the film will give you a pretty good idea of what the show is like.

Differences?  Well – the show’s longer for a start.  It has a few more songs, some of the minor principal roles are more “fleshed out” and there’s a lot more chorus work.  (The chorus doesn’t actually do a lot in the film but that’s purely due to the style of production so don’t be put off…you’ll find there’s plenty in the show.)

If you decide to buy the DVD, do make sure you get the right one: it’s clearly labelled “Albert Finney…Scrooge” on the front cover.  If you want to get a CD, the one to go for is the original stage version with Anthony Newley.  Avoid at all costs the Tommy Steele version.

Happy Christmas,

Terry

Created 28th November 2008