Scrooge McDuck Dickens comes to Eugene. BY DAVE CONSTANTIN For those in search of a faithful rendering of Charles Dickens' immortal tale of greed and redemption in the season of giving, A Christmas Carol, look no further than ACE's (Actors Cabaret of Eugene) entertaining dinner theater production of this Broadway blockbuster. Joe Zingo directs an astonishing 51-person cast that moves around the tiny stage in controlled swarms, enacting elaborate scenes of everything from bustling London streets, to a lively Christmas gala, to a chorus of terrifying apparitions trying to scare the reluctant Scrooge straight. Bruce McCarthy brings to life a properly despicable Ebenezer with gruff-voiced diatribes on the poor and downtrodden, quickly establishing a character in need of redemption. A well-rehearsed supporting cast keeps the whimsical momentum humming at a brisk pace as the major plot points are dutifully checked off. This can sometimes make the play feel rushed, however, and some emotional moments aren't mined for their full potential. But Dickens isn't known for his brevity, and the cast has a lot of ground to cover. Some elements of the set design and costumes are a bit cartoonish, which is not always consistent with the tone of the scene. The dime-store Halloween garb on Jacob Marley's ghost (played by Marc Innocenti) elicits giggles where gasps are in order. There were also some missed cues and other minor confusions, like the conspicuously delayed smoke machine that trailed the appearance of Marley's ghost by at least half a minute. But most of what went wrong can be chalked up to opening weekend kinks, sure to be ironed out for the next round. After all, what counts in a musical is the music. And among many a strong and competent voice, it's Chrissy Kelly's gorgeous soprano that stands out like a beacon, breathing life and warmth into her role as the ghost of Christmas Past, and elevating the production to whole new level. The other notable facet of this production is the outstanding collection of young talent. Ashley Apelzin is perfectly cast as Emily, Ebenezer's young love interest, whose impressive voice hints at future accomplishment. Alex Mentzel, as Tiny Tim, has the freckle-faced charm and "God bless us all" innocence that seems to have been pulled right off the page of a Dickens novel. There's even a moment of acceptably gratuitous sentiment when two little girls, alone in the spotlight, sing in high falsetto to a rapidly melting Scrooge. But Dickens wasn't shy about slinging the sap, so neither is ACE. Look, you already know the story, but this is your chance to supercharge on holiday cheer. Show dates are Nov. 25, 26 and Dec. 2, 3, 9 and 10. Call 683-4368 for tickets. The play will also be presented at the Hult Center's Soreng Theater Dec. 16-18. Call the Hult Center box office at 682-5000.     A… My Name is Alice Opens Friday, Dec. 2 at Cottage Theatre, Cottage Grove Cottage Theatre opens A…My Name is Alice, a lively all-female musical review comprising sketches, monologues, dance numbers, poems and music ranging from gospel and country western to the blues. Performance dates are Dec. 2-4, 9-11 and 16-17. Buy tickets online at www.cottagetheatre.org/tickets/ or call 942-9195.
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