David Mynne works his theatrical magic again in A Christmas Carol, his one-man show now running at The Wallis. Mynne, founding member of the British company Kneehigh, has had much success with his previous solo shows, Great Expectations, Dracula and The Odyssey. Now he has expanded his range with his adaptation of the Dickens classic in which he plays dozens of characters, beginning with Ebenezer Scrooge. Using his flexible voice, masterful body control and a variety of facial expressions, Mynne is able to bring Dickens’s world to life and make us believe in Scrooge’s conversion from grasping old miser to generous, warm-hearted human being. Working on a near-bare stage—the only set pieces are three candle-lit stanchions and a couple of clothes-racks---Mynne captures the audience’s attention from minute one and never lets it wander, thanks to his expertise and charisma as a performer. He needs few props and costume changes to aid him in his journey through Victorian London at Christmas time; less is more in this intimate, always-understated production. Hats off to Mynne for his amazing display of acting prowess; there isn’t a hint of anything humbug about it.
