The Carols A World Premiere Musical (1812 Productions, Philadelphia) Written and Directed by Jennifer Childs, Music by Monica Stephenson, Lyrics by Jennifer Childs

I am a sucker for holiday shows and a huge fan of anything written, directed by or starring the ridiculously talented Jennifer Childs so The Carols put me right in my holiday happy place!

Set in a VFW post in a small New Jersey town during World War II, The Carols tells the heartwarming tale of the Carol sisters, Sylvia, Lily and Rose (the lovely and harmonious Emily Kleimo, Rachel Camp and Caroline Dooner) who are trying to keep alive the holiday tradition of putting on Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'.  This is proving exceptionally difficult, not least because every man in town is either off to war or not coming back. They are also constrained by their very own 'Scrooge', Miss Betty (the always magnificent Mary Martello) who runs the VFW and would just as soon forget about Christmas.

Into this mix bumbles the hilarious Anthony Lawton as Mel, an out of work vaudevillian looking for a paying gig.  For room and board he signs on and a corkscrewed, comical version of A Christmas Carol is born.

This show is both heartwarming and hysterical.  The scene during which Marley's ghost and Scrooge do a take on 'who's on first' with the ghosts is gut busting! The musical numbers will make you laugh (Marry an American) and cry (My Day) and the themes of both wonder and horror at the holidays will hit home for everyone.

Get thee to The Carols and let's lobby 1812 Productions to make this a new holiday tradition!