Went last night to opening night for New Life Fine Art’s Ebeneezer Scrooge: A Christmas Carol. I wonder if this story has the record on my blog for the most posts, as it never gets old and never ceases to nourish my old and tired soul. This year, two of my middle children are performing in it, and it was such a pleasure to see their noble efforts from the audience. Such a rich contribution to this timeless classic: original music from the director, colorful stage pictures in Victorian London, a live orchestra to accompany the recorded music, and best of all, a powerfully spiritual message of transformation and resurrection in the show’s main character Scrooge.

A word about my two favorite scenes: My oldest son danced in Fezziwig’s Christmas Work Party from Scrooge’s past. It is a scene of such elegance and grace where the young adult Scrooge first wooed his intended bride Belle. Later, this same Belle breaks it off with a more hardened young man who chooses to chill his affections for more worldly gain. The first Act closes with a heart-rending duet between older Scrooge and younger Belle. The actress who plays Belle acts and sings so convincingly, I almost pay no heed to the words. It leaves our company within the audience in tears for his lost love.

The second scene is Scrooge’s resurrection moment. It is a scene that I have never fully taken in until last night, as I have so often performed in the show but rarely been an audience member. It is toward the end of Christmas Future when Scrooge has witnessed his gravestone and realized his own mortality. Remembrance of death is not enough, for as the song the Messenger tells him, “This death can be a CURE to his greed and depravity.” As this dawns on him, and he reaches out to the Spirit of God to heal him, the light behind him reveals this gorgeous transformation from night, to dawn, to full daylight: a direct mirror in the natural world of the dawning resurrection of his cold and shut up heart.

Glory to God for the hope of Resurrection promised to us by the Babe born in the manager as man and eternally begotten as God before the ages! Performances for this wonderful musical extend to tomorrow (Sunday) and four performances next weekend. Hope those who are local to Boston can make it.