It_PNP 's_VBZ impossible_AJ0 to_TO0 imagine_VVI the_AT0 holiday_NN1 season_NN1 without_PRP A_AT0 Christmas_NN1 Carol_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 Charles_NP0 Dickens_NP0 novella_NN1 ,_PUN which_DTQ has_VHZ since_AV0 been_VBN adapted_VVN to_PRP just_AV0 about_PRP every_AT0 imaginable_AJ0 format_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 last_ORD 100-plus_AJ0 years_NN2 ,_PUN is_VBZ a_AT0 Christmas_NN1 ur-text_NN1 —_PUN a_AT0 piece_NN1 of_PRF fiction_NN1 that_DT0 is_VBZ not_XX0 just_AV0 part_NN1 of_PRF our_DPS seasonal_AJ0 traditions_NN2 but_CJC foundational_AJ0 to_PRP them_PNP ._SENT Given_VVN that_DT0 ,_PUN it_PNP 's_VBZ a_AT0 difficult_AJ0 task_NN1 to_TO0 breathe_VVI new_AJ0 life_NN1 and_CJC energy_NN1 into_PRP the_AT0 work_NN1 ._SENT But_CJC a_AT0 new_AJ0 production_NN1 ,_PUN as_CJS adapted_VVN by_PRP Jack_NP0 Thorne_NP0 (_PUL Harry_NP0 Potter_NP0 and_CJC the_AT0 Cursed_AJ0 Child_NN1 )_PUR and_CJC originally_AV0 directed_VVN by_PRP Matthew_NP0 Warchus_NP0 (_PUL Matilda_NP0 the_AT0 Musical_AJ0 )_PUR ,_PUN knows_VVZ how_AVQ to_TO0 keep_VVI Christmas_NN1 well_AV0 ._SENT Bradley_NP0 Whitford_NP0 currently_AV0 leads_VVZ a_AT0 touring_AJ0 production_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Tony-winning_AJ0 adaptation_NN1 at_PRP Los_NP0 Angeles_NP0 '_POS Ahmanson_NP0 Theater_NP0 and_CJC his_DPS Ebeneezer_NP0 Scrooge_NP0 is_VBZ a_AT0 wonder_NN1 to_TO0 behold_VVI ._SENT Whitford_NP0 gives_VVZ the_AT0 famous_AJ0 miser_NN1 a_AT0 richly_AV0 layered_AJ0 and_CJC complex_AJ0 shading_NN1 ,_PUN giving_VVG him_PNP a_AT0 wry_AJ0 and_CJC knowing_AJ0 sensibility_NN1 even_AV0 in_PRP his_DPS most_DT0 curmudgeonly_AV0 moments_NN2 ._SENT Whitford_NP0 's_POS interpretation_NN1 of_PRF Thorne_NP0 's_POS script_NN1 bring_VVB Scrooge_NP0 's_POS childhood_NN1 wounds_NN2 to_PRP the_AT0 surface_NN1 in_PRP compelling_AJ0 ways_NN2 that_CJT make_VVB him_PNP so_AV0 much_AV0 more_AV0 than_CJS a_AT0 guy_NN1 who_PNQ likes_VVZ to_TO0 shout_VVI "_PUQ Bah_ITJ ,_PUN Hambug_NP0 ._SENT "_PUQ He_PNP 's_VBZ particularly_AV0 marvelous_AJ0 when_CJS it_PNP comes_VVZ to_PRP Scrooge_NP0 's_POS redemption_NN1 and_CJC transformation_NN1 ,_PUN laying_VVG bare_AJ0 the_AT0 hurt_AJ0 and_CJC lost_AJ0 little_AJ0 boy_NN1 in_PRP his_DPS soul_NN1 ._SENT His_DPS radiant_AJ0 joy_NN1 when_CJS he_PNP realizes_VVZ he_PNP has_VHZ n't_XX0 missed_VVN Christmas_NN1 and_CJC endeavors_VVZ to_TO0 set_VVI things_NN2 right_AV0 is_VBZ practically_AV0 beatific_AJ0 ._SENT Whitford_NP0 infuses_VVZ Scrooge_NP0 's_POS shift_NN1 with_PRP an_AT0 erratic_AJ0 ,_PUN ecstatic_AJ0 exultation_NN1 that_CJT sparks_VVZ from_PRP him_PNP like_PRP a_AT0 live-wire_NN1 and_CJC provokes_VVZ plenty_PNI of_PRF warm_AJ0 laughter_NN1 ,_PUN as_CJS both_AV0 he_PNP and_CJC the_AT0 audience_NN1 are_VBB in_AVP on_PRP the_AT0 sheer_AJ0 audacity_NN1 and_CJC absurdity_NN1 of_PRF this_DT0 second_ORD chance_NN1 ._SENT But_CJC he_PNP wisely_AV0 balances_VVZ that_CJT frenetic_AJ0 energy_NN1 with_PRP an_AT0 emotional_AJ0 resonance_NN1 that_CJT acknowledges_VVZ the_AT0 mystery_NN1 and_CJC the_AT0 miracle_NN1 of_PRF Scrooge_NP0 's_POS journey_NN1 ._SENT Whitford_NP0 rivals_VVZ Michael_NP0 Caine_NP0 in_PRP his_DPS portrayal_NN1 ,_PUN lending_VVG Scrooge_NP0 both_AV0 a_AT0 gravity_NN1 and_CJC a_AT0 twinkle_NN1 in_PRP his_DPS eye_NN1 that_CJT makes_VVZ him_PNP easy_AJ0 to_TO0 root_VVI for_PRP ._SENT Whitford_NP0 is_VBZ backed_VVN up_AVP by_PRP an_AT0 extraordinary_AJ0 ensemble_NN1 who_PNQ bring_VVB the_AT0 proceedings_NN2 to_PRP rapturous_AJ0 life_NN1 with_PRP a_AT0 score_NN1 of_PRF gloriously_AV0 arranged_VVN Christmas_NN1 carols_NN2 and_CJC a_AT0 winning_AJ0 musicality_NN1 ._SENT Alex_NP0 Newell_NP0 and_CJC Kate_NP0 Burton_NP0 do_VDI some_DT0 heavy_AJ0 lifting_NN1 as_PRP the_AT0 Ghosts_NN2 of_PRF Christmas_NN1 Present_NN1 and_CJC Past_AV0 respectively_AV0 ._SENT Newell_NP0 lays_VVZ it_PNP on_PRP a_AT0 bit_NN1 thick_AJ0 ,_PUN his_DPS thick_AJ0 Caribbean_AJ0 patois_NN1 verging_VVG into_PRP caricature_NN1 at_PRP times_NN2 ._SENT But_CJC his_DPS singing_NN1 voice_NN1 is_VBZ so_AV0 resplendent_AJ0 it_PNP 's_VBZ hard_AJ0 to_TO0 mind_VVI ._SENT 
