Event Report: Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group’s A Christmas Carol

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At this time of year, one of the old chestnuts we know for sure will be warmed up is the great Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, an unforgettable tale that has instilled warmth, joy, and hope in generations of people worldwide. It was an instant hit in 1843, and within a mere three months of its publication, the story was adapted to eight concurrent stage productions in London alone.

But as literary history tells us—and as the tone and events of that immortal narrative itself indicate—this perennial holiday charmer was not inspired by Christmas at all. It was inspired by horror. Fitting then that Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre in North Hollywood should turn its cat’s eye toward this ghostly masterpiece.

What compelled Dickens to write this iconic piece were the most commonly relatable horrors of his day: poverty, drudgery, hunger, alienation, and despair among the struggling, working poor of Victorian England. In fact, his initial notion was to compose a political pamphlet on his concerns for the impoverished. Canny communicator that he was, though, he realized that an emotional journey was called for. He chose the lens of the year-end holiday which was enjoying some cultural resurgence then, having fallen out of general fashion for some time. (Fashion is relative: Human skulls are piled beneath Z.J.U.’s Christmas tree.)

Zombie-Joe-Christmas-Tree

The proto-Carol was a passage from Dickens’ previous work The Pickwick Papers, in which “Gabriel Grub”—the ur-Scrooge—is shown the past and future by grotesque goblins. The multitasking cast/chorus at Z.J.U.—which must be the most intimate “black box” non-Equity space in L.A. County—embraces the weirder aspects of the well-known yarn’s spooks by abstracting them into a frenetic, face-painted scrum of delirious steampunk libertines. Resembling no less than Burning Man veterans on peyote who got lost on their way to a neon orgy, they gibber and squeak as they quiver and slink through a crisply delivered hour’s entertainment (the original novella is a mere 28,944 words after all).

We associate warm, worthy sentiments with the story, but it pays to acknowledge that Ebenezer Scrooge’s “scared straight” redemption—and so our empathy for him—is one of the best-earned in all literature not in spite of its horrific elements, but certainly because of them. The ghastly Jacob Marley is a more iconic ghost than Hamlet’s father, the phantasmic Christmas Yet-to-Come has haunted many a youngster’s nightmares, and the horrid child-figures of Ignorance and Want drive the author’s theme home like a stake through the heart. Interesting to note that each chapter of the book is called a “Stave,” which means “song verse,” but also “break,” “smash,” and “crush.” Scrooge must be broken, his ego smashed, and his spirit crushed before he can be reborn.

All the quick-change artists on stage are in the twisted spirit of things. Z.J.U. stalwart Sebastian Munoz provides a vigorously afraid miser, and at speed too. (It’s L.A.; they know you’ve got places to be.) Adapter-director Denise Devin incarnates all three Christmas Ghosts—that’s “Boo!” for your buck.

It is recommended that you let the spirits guide you to this charming (and quite affordable) production, which runs through December 28th, plus the many other grisly freak shows this plucky theatre offers throughout the year.

And introduce yourself to Zombie Joe. Despite his name, he’s sweet as Tiny Tim.


Where: ZJU Theatre Group, 4850 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, California
When: Saturdays @ 8:30 pm and Sundays @ 7:00 pm
Reservations: (818) 202-4120
Tickets: Just $15 each

For more info visit ZombieJoes.com.

zombiejoes-achristmascarol

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