A Christmas Carol, the musical: Stage or Tv Version?

It is that time of year again where I pull out my OCR of A CHRISTMAS CAROL the musical and listen to it over and over again. This year I have two options. Even though I bought the original TV version last year when it was avilabale, I just started to listen to it and I have to say HANDS DOWN the OCR(Madison Square Garden) is the best.

I did not like the movie version at all (soundtrack or movie). I felt that they changed too much and Jennifer Love Hewitt (JLH) was just awful. She runined the whole # "A Place Called Home". JLH just made the song sound so poppy and just so bad...the guy who was playing Young Scrooge @ 18 (Steven Miller, movie) was just as bad. If you listen to the OCR Walter Charles and the two who played Emily and Young Scrooge @ 18 was just amazing...the three part harmony brought tears to my eyes.


In 1995 I wanted to bring the stage version to the small or big screen, using what score was perserved on the OCR. That is such a wonderful score and it is haunting and cheerful all at the same time. One of the best versions ever. Scrooge, the musical, A Chrismtas Schonner and even Tim, A Carol for A Later Christmas can not touch the remarkable effect that A CHRISTMAS CAROL, the musical has done to me (even though Tim, A Carol For A Later Christmas, has some good songs here and there).

So, with that being said, what are your guys thoughts on the recordings, film and stages versions?


Thanks..would love to read what anything you have to say about this!

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I adore the TV version......

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The TV version had actors who looked like they took two bottles of sleeping pills each before shooting...it was terrible!!! Only a hard core musical theatre fan could watch that until the end without snoozing.

The stage version I loved, but I always wondered why they revised some of the songs, I love how everything is on the OCR. I personally think is the composer's best.

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As much as I love musicals, I have to admit I gave up on the TV version after the first fifteen minutes.

i am partial to the stage version because i did it its final year (with jim dale). one of the best experiences of my life i still have a script and score at home, actually. glad to hear people miss it that much! (maybe it'll make a surprise return??)

I credit this show to have hooked me into theatre when I was 5 years old. Still love it and LOVE listening to it this time of year.

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