One-man show in Lakeview offers new take on classic, 'A Christmas Carol'

CHICAGO (WLS) -- "Charles Dickens Begrudgingly Performs 'A Christmas Carol' Again" is an award-winning production, now playing at the Theater Wit in Lakeview.

Blake Montgomery created the one-man show.

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He grew up on the North Shore, and went to New Trier High School.

The actor said this new take on a classic tale is full of humor and heart.

"We came up with this idea that maybe Dickens is somehow magically still alive. So he's now well over 200 years old, and he's been performing this same reading as he historically did since 1853. And imagining, gosh, he must be tired of it," Montgomery said. "Instead of performing, he just wants to have a party this year. He's done with the show; he's sick of it. In his mind, tonight is going to be different."

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Montgomery said the show woke up his Christmas spirit.

"By the end of the evening that room has been turned into a holiday haven," he said. "I rediscovered comfort and joy in the presence of these people and this absurd version of this old author. If there's anything we can do to make other people's lives better, that's what we should be doing. I think it's important, what we do, to offer a place for people to come together and celebrate humanity in the room together, whatever that play may be."

Montgomery said the show is a celebrations of life and the holidays.

"It starts out as ridiculous and comic and keeps that lightness, but works through that to a more serious, deeper, 'oh, this really is telling "A Christmas Carol" in a way I've never seen it, but respectful and fun and imaginative, but absolutely true to the spirit of the original,'" he said.

The show is at Theater Wit in Lakeview through Dec. 28.