A CHRISTMAS CAROL 2022 Previews

Bah, humbug.

Tomorrow night, Jefferson Mays returns to Broadway in a new one-man adaptation of A Christmas Carol. Mays plays over 50 characters throughout the course of the performance, including a potato. Originally written by Charles Dickens, this Christmas Carol is adapted by Mays, Susan Lyons, and Michael Arden, and directed by Arden. Opening night is set for November 21 at the Nederlander Theatre, and the limited engagement will conclude on January 1.

“Experience A Christmas Carol unlike any other — past, present, or future. The timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge comes to thrilling new life as Tony Award winner Jefferson Mays plays over 50 roles in a virtuosic, master class of a performance that must be seen to be believed. This theatrical achievement comes from the haunting and hope-filled vision of one of Broadway’s most imaginative directors, Michael Arden.”

Who’s going?

You watch your Phraseology! Mr. Mays was so good as Mayor Shinn. Can’t wait to see him in A Christmas Carol. I’ll be there Thursday.

$35 tickets available now via Broadway Direct lottery:

https://lottery.broadwaydirect.com/show/carol-ny/

Yes.. It ran 90 mins, One Act. Saw several empty rows in the Mezz. For Merch they had a T shirt/ Sweatshirt/ Mugs and Magnets.

I went last night. This one might be divisive, especially with the tourist crowd. Half my row walked out before the end.

The show overall felt quite dark - literally (multiple scenes illuminated with only candlelight) and figuratively (loud/abrupt noises, scary projection ghosts). The sets, lighting, and special effects were quite captivating. There were some obvious kinks to work out (mostly with the lighting cues and projections) but overall it's very spellbinding.

Jefferson Mays is a treasure. Once the show settles in you don't even realize that he's the only actor onstage.

I was seated in the center rear mezzanine, and my biggest gripe was with the sound. Large chunks of the show were borderline unintelligible. At times, Mays speaks very quickly in a thick accent and the diction does not carry up to the rear mezz. Other times, the sound effects enhancing his voice completely overpowered or muddled the words. This would be highest on my list of things to adjust during the preview period, because the general consensus of those around me (including those who walked out) was "what is even happening right now?"

I'd like to see this again once it officially opens and from a better seat. I have a feeling it would be a completely different experience.

Is it a unit set or does it do anything interesting?

I simply loved this.

A completely unique telling of Carol, told almost like a ghost story, with several truly dark and unsettling sequences. Gorgeously designed and unexpectedly lush for a solo show. Just surprise after surprise. And his performance is, of course, masterful.

I indeed saw many leave the Mezz last night, too. I think the crowd was heavily papered, though. So, that's often what you get when tickets are free.

That said, some of those were families with small children. And I would be interested how this production did in Los Angeles, because I would imagine there were families who thought they were seeing a cozy standard production and were surprised by how scary it can be.

Can't recommend enough.

I very well might go back again.

The Thorne version at the Lyceum was much more appealing to our family. We saw 10 or so people walk out yesterday and disrupt a moment from where we were.

The audience laughed after the first moment. It startles and then people laughed. The show was not scary to our 6 year niece who fell asleep towards the end and wanted to know how "they put shadows on the walls." - Kids have seen "scarier" things than this. The show is dim and sitting anywhere but the center section is a mistake as sightlines have not been accounted for in the transfer. The "magic" is a simple yet organized use of set and lights,projection,etc (won't spoil) - hidden, until used, by a consistently dark (sleepy) stage. It felt a little long and sadly only has a few moments of that Christmas feeling you might go hoping to leave with. Mays is great doing his multi-character fare which is somewhat clear but is more by-the-book narrator.

The three of us preferred the Thorne version. Perhaps it will make a return next year. This year it's a different holiday offering to Radio City, if you've seen that... or need another helping of Dicken's ACC, who also performed this over 150 times himself.

Updated On: 11/11/22 at 11:06 AM

I really enjoyed this more than I thought I would and it feels like more than a one man show because the characters are fully realized and there are projections to flesh out the staging at certain points.

That being said the audience was HORRIBLE. I was in the front of the mezz so didn't see people leaving mid-show. I wished the people around me would have left though. A woman with her two children, one of which was CONSTANTLY sucking on something and both were talking non-stop. The guy next to me was breathing so loudly I could barely hear Mays.

Please do NOT take your children to this. I don't think children should be taken to any one man show because they can't follow it.

The Sufjan song is random but I was loving it.

This will forever be a cherished theatergoing memory of mine. What a stirring and unsettling night of storytelling.

Shafts of light. Shadow play. Slight of hand. Diversion. All age old theatrical tricks that are on full display and used to great effect.

Mays' performance is everything we've come to expect from him. I'd kill to take a one man storytelling workshop lead by him.

I agree with everyone who thought the audience was rude and outrageously disrespectful to everyone else sitting around them. The lack of decorum in the theatre is outrageous.

Will be back before closing. :)

I love Jefferson Mays but this show felt toooooooo long and my ears hurt after thirty minutes. He talks non-stop so even though he is performing different characters, it felt almost like I was stuck in a non stop monologue. I was sitting in Side Orchestra C so I could see facial expressions and lighting but missed set effects. The last scene was quite beautiful but I cannot recommend this unless you love monologues.

chrishuyen said: Melissa25 said: "I love Jefferson Mays but this show felt toooooooo long and my ears hurt after thirty minutes. He talks non-stop so even though he is performing different characters, it felt almost like I was stuck in a non stop monologue. I was sitting in Side Orchestra C so I could see facial expressions and lighting but missed set effects. The last scene was quite beautiful but I cannot recommend this unless you love monologues."

Legitimate question and I'm not trying to be snarky, but isn't that what you expect from a one man show? Like...there's only gonna be one person on stage talking so what were you expecting?

I do agree that when I saw it in LA it felt a little dragged out, and I definitely also remember feeling a bit sleepy at times, but I also remember some stunning moments (I think the transitions into past/present/future?) and a nice use of props/set pieces on stage. Though on the whole I'd say I preferred Jack Thorne's version.


I knew it was a one man show but I guess I was expecting more diversification amongst the different characters that he played. Perhaps he will settle in and that will happen. There is so much verse that it just seemed like on onslaught after a while and it became hard to concentrate. There are pauses in conversations that allow us to digest. I missed those.
They did use some eerie green lighting on his face when he became the ghost which was very cool but overall my side orchestra seat prevented me from seeing other special effects.

Silver and Gold is the song used