There are so many live shows in Seattle this holiday season.
“Elf The Musical” at the 5th Avenue Theatre and the touring Broadway production of “The Lion King” at the Paramount are sure to be among the popular favorites, and with good reason.
Here’s the case for seeing something smaller and, as a kid might say, old-fashioned:
“A Christmas Carol” is ACT Theater’s staging of the Charles Dickens classic. It is delightful. It is also a much more intimate experience than the larger shows. You feel like you could talk to the cast (but please don’t do that).
And while the 5th Avenue can proudly say that “Elf” is “100% made in Seattle,” ACT goes one better by boasting that its “A Christmas Carol” is celebrating 50 years on the Seattle stage.
Just like it’s a tradition at ACT, the show could be a new holiday tradition for your family. Tickets start at around $60, and the show runs a tidy 90 minutes with no intermission.
Why you should take your kids to see ACT’s “A Christmas Carol”:
- It’s a literary classic with a timeless message.
- Their lives don’t have to be all technology and pop culture, all the time.
Why you might hesitate:
- It confronts class, poverty and disability. These can be tough topics.
- The tale is told in the language of Dickens, and some of the dialogue goes by quickly, so it’s not always the easiest to catch. However, the overall message is clear and should be easily grasped. A suggestion: Give your kids the Cliff’s Notes version of the story (do people still say that?) beforehand so they’ll know what to look for.
- The theater cautions that some of the imagery could frighten young children and also notes the use of loud noises, fog and bright and strobe lights.
The show runs through Dec. 28 and ACT’s Allen Theater is at 700 Union St. Ticket information here.
