A Christmas Carol (2019) NYC Reviews and Tickets

87%

(149 Reviews)

Positive

93%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Enchanting, Entertaining, Great staging, Delightful, Great acting

About the Show

After critically acclaimed runs at London’s Old Vic, Jack Thorne's adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic comes to Broadway. Directed by Matthew Warchus ("Matilda") and starring Campbell Scott as Scrooge.

From the show:

The holiday masterpiece, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, comes to Broadway for 8 weeks only following critically acclaimed runs at London’s Old Vic. Two visionary talents, playwright Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) and director Matthew Warchus (Matilda), offer a magical new interpretation of Charles Dickens’ beloved story. Time Out raves, “Five stars. It’s a stunning piece of visual theater.”

This timeless — and timely — tale of redemption welcomes theatergoers of all ages into an immersive experience that’s brimming with Christmas spirit. It’s “a loving, powerful adaptation” (The Stage) that features dazzling staging, moving storytelling and 12 cherished Christmas carols, including “Joy to the World,” “Silent Night” and “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear.” Don’t miss your chance to be part of a show that’s so “joyful and heartwarming, not even Scrooge himself could dislike it!” (The Telegraph).

Member Reviews (149)

Relevant, Great singing, Entertaining, Refreshing, Delightful

See it if You want to see how they made this show matter again! It feels fresh and important. Full of joy, sorrow, fear, love, memories and sentiment.

Don't see it if You’re a big ol’ Scrooge...though that’s the perfect reason to see this show. I dare say this production could warm the coldest heart. Read more

Gimmicky, Uneven tone, Disappointing script, Superficial, Entertaining

See it if you enjoy superficial spectacle (snow! haze! flashing lights!) and don't care abt Dicken's moving tale of redemption. Lots of mod pop psych

Don't see it if you want true message of ACC; this is updated nonsense. Strange tonal choices. Anachronisms galore ("prioritze" fr 1961). Wasted potential! Read more

...goes off the rails, Delightful, Great acting, Enchanting, Entertaining

See it if u want to see a refreshing, elegantly staged, moving adaptation of the classic Dickens story, starring a stirring Campbell Scott as Scrooge.

Don't see it if u can't walk away & forget the needless, disruptive, chaotic, childish, 4th-wall-breaking "feast" that mars an otherwise moving production. Read more

Delightful, Great staging, Great acting, Entertaining, Clever

See it if you would like to see a different version of Dicken's story. The first act is similar but the second act really takes off.

Don't see it if You like the traditional story or you want a musical. This is a drama with Xmas songs and bells, no original music. Read more

Clever, Great acting, Delightful, Entertaining

See it if Great way to start or end Christmas season. A different twist of the classic story.

Don't see it if You want the classic, or dislike the story. Read more

Resonant, Classic, Magical, Great staging, Great acting

See it if You’re in the mood for a heartfelt classic, or you want to see a remarkable staging of a play that is hardly ever reimagined.

Don't see it if You don’t care how interesting the staging is, you still don’t care to see a rehash of the same story.

Refreshing, Entertaining, Enchanting, Profound, Great staging

See it if you’re looking to boost your Christmas spirit. As you’d expect, this is a heart-warming show, but with a few unexpected twists.

Don't see it if (Can’t think of anything. Even if you’ve seen this play many times, you haven’t seen this version. It’s really beautiful.)

Delightful, Refreshing, Great staging, Great acting, Ambitious

See it if Veering from ye tired olde Dickensian yule log of yore, this update is smart enough not to tamper with original themes of hearth and excess.

Don't see it if Like perennial "The Nutcracker," your nostalgic holiday spirit is to be found here (carols), with a surprising voyage into an unhappy heart.

Critic Reviews (26)

CRITIC’S PICK "God Rest Ye Merry, Plutocrats: This lively reimagining of Dickens’s yuletide perennial, written by Jack Thorne, returns the story’s social conscience to center stage."
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3/5 Stars: "At the Old Vic in London...the show is staged in the round. Perhaps it is more effective in that form; at the Lyceum...the festivity has a faint sense of effort...This 'A Christmas Carol' has many lovely moments and atmosphere aplenty. What it lacks, just a little, is cheer."
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"'A Christmas Carol' Gets a Cute Scrooge With Daddy Issues"
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"Campbell Scott stars as Ebenezer Scrooge in Jack Thorne's moving adaptation of the Charles Dickens holiday classic, with Tony winners Andrea Martin and LaChanze as the Ghosts of Christmas Past and Present."
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