We experienced a magically warm start to the Christmas season in Columbus, Ohio by attending CAPA’s and the Short North Stage’s collaborative production of “A Christmas Carol” based upon the novella by Charles Dickens at the Ohio Theatre last Saturday. Developing as a tradition, the Ohio Theatre celebrated the second year of the local production. Adapted by Thom Christopher Warren, as well as directed and musically staged by Edward Carignan, and the music composed and orchestrated by Thomas Albert. The lead role of Ebenezer Scrooge impressively and perfectly played by Derek Smith.

We were full of Christmas cheer the whole night. As we walked from the parking garage to the Ohio Theatre, we took a selfie with the theatre’s marquee in the background and a police officer on duty offered to take our photograph for us since he was not busy at the time. As we entered the Ohio Theatre, greeted with live Christmas carolers singing from the second floor front-of-house facing the lower lobby, we appreciated how the carolers in their Victorian attire invoked the Christmas spirit.

Next, we ventured to the second floor where CAPA provided free Christmas cookies off the lobby area. We selected cocoa peppermint and sugar cookies. Humorously, much later in the evening after we returned home, I discovered I had a crumb of the cocoa peppermint cookie above my lip. It looked like a little mole, funny. After picking up our cookies, we took some time to take photos near a beautifully lit twelve-foot Christmas tree. Doors opened soon after, so we returned to the main floor, where the ushers kindly directed us to our seats. We sat in the eighth row near stage right. An organist played Christmas carols while we waited for the start of the show and “A Christmas Carol” script, snowflakes, and holly projected onto the lit velvet red stage curtains. It was a delightful festive atmosphere to visit amongst ourselves in preparation to enjoy the play.

May we all be challenged and encouraged by Scrooge’s learned truths: “Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown me, by an altered life!” and Tiny Tim’s love for all even though he has experienced much hardship in life himself, “God bless us, everyone”. If you have never read the novella or seen a play or film version of “A Christmas Carol”, I hope you do, ‘tis a piece of sparkling joy, one of many to be embraced this time of year and all year through. Scrooge realizes yet another powerful truth, which inspires us to strive to do the same, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”