Christmas Carol, A

Maybe it's the looming holiday season, but my reaction to the Guthrie Theater's 25th production of A Christmas Carol is a decided bah, humbug.  The adaptation of Charles Dickens' venerable tale has all the hallmarks of a classic, from a sumptuous set to talented actors to a bevy of special effects.  But the whole enterprise has left me empty instead of uplifted.  It isn't the actors' fault.  A talented cast -- led by Philip Goodwin as Scrooge -- wrestle plenty of humanity out of the Christmas tale.  Scrooge is given some extra depth, especially in scenes with the woman he loves -- and loses -- as a young man. Another strong performance comes from Mark Rosenwinkel as Bob Cratchit.  Rosenwinkel keeps Cratchit's optimism alive, even when the weight of the world is crashing down on his head.  But their efforts are drowned out by the set pieces, from an overstuffed Victorian holiday celebration to the Ghost of Christmas Present's opulent craft descending from the theater's rafters. The most compelling moments come from the Cratchit's family celebration.  Without money, the family rely on simple traditions to celebrate the season.  It's here that the production shows its real potential -- potential never realized.