“Q Brothers Christmas Carol” reviewed by Julia W. Rath

Highly Recommended ***** If there is any show that you should catch this Christmas/holiday season, this is the one! “Q Brothers Christmas Carol” is a fresh, new take on Charles Dickens’ classic story “A Christmas Carol.” The story hits the fine balance of being a spoof of the original while it also crafts its own unique message about social inequities in America today. The brilliant fusing of the ghost of Jacob Marley (Scrooge’s former business partner) with the ghost of Bob Marley (together with his reggae music, dreads, and Rastafarianism) becomes the nucleus for the entire tale. The merged Marley is the antithesis of the person that he had once been in life, and his presence nicely explains the insertion of hip hop, rap music, and clever and playful rhyming schemes that are used to forward the plot. As we watch the inventive visitations of the Ghosts of Hip-Hop Past and Present, we consider how well they change the soulless Ebenezer Scrooge (who sleeps on his huge money bag) into a good and kind human being. And one of my favorite characters is Lil’ Tim (a takeoff on Tiny Tim) who is so unlucky (with his kidney dialysis and colostomy bag—and every other possible illness and ailment imaginable) that he not only has caught COVID-19 but also COVID-20. The story is suitably exaggerated, making a sad but poignant tale funny and funky at the same time. All the performers are men, who play both men and women, and their costume changes inject additional humor into the performance.

Above all, we wonder about the genius behind this production. This has to do to with the talented Q Brothers. GQ plays Scrooge, and JQ plays Marley, Belle, the Ghost of Hip-Hop Present, and Lil’ Tim. Other actors include Postell Pringle, who plays Bob Crachit, Martha Crachit, and the Ghost of Hip-Hop Past; and Jackson Doran who plays Scrooge’s nephew Fred, Apprentice Dick Wilkins, and Mama Cratchit. The DJ is Clayton Stamper, and the stage manager is Kevin Gregory Dwyer. In addition to the Q Brothers, the writers include Doran, Pringle, and Rick Boynton.

This 80-minute show with no intermission is a gem. However, there are a few words of warning: It is very loud, so you need to wear earplugs. That said, the sound design and sound mix are both great, thanks to the work of Stephen Ptacek. Then too, there are lots of flashing lights; often too overwhelming for my taste. (Sometimes the lights were so intensely bright that I had to close my eyes, but perhaps this had something to do with where I was seated in the audience.) To my mind, lighting designer Jesse Klug should have toned things down a bit. Yet I liked the proscenium arch gayly decorated with holiday lights, and I absolutely adored the streaming multistory spotlight on Scrooge as he was trying to sleep—and instead “dreamt” about the ghostly apparitions. The set was simple but superb, as a result of the fine talent of scenic designer Scott Davis. The background was, for the most part, that of a cityscape, with the Willis Tower predominating and also the structure formerly known as the John Hancock Building. Placing the DJ at the very top of the set works extremely well, as we can see him playing his records and dancing along to them. Davis also doubles as costume designer and together with Melissa Veal, the original wig and makeup designer, they have decked out all the performers meticulously and amusingly. The choreography was marvelous due to the hard work of Anacron.

On the night I attended the performance, one of the actors riffed about RC cola in one- or two-liter bottles accompanying a Father & Son pizza; this was a deviation from the script that seemed to be totally ad lib and a break from the rap. The actors themselves were laughing. This added a touch of local charm to the show that had nothing to do with Scrooge and “A Christmas Carol”, but it certainly was funny. And if there is any “fault” in the story, maybe Scrooge should have been counting bitcoin on his computer in addition to his cash!

In brief, “Q Brothers Christmas Carol” infuses energetic songs into a simplified, refashioned tale that will have you bouncing in your seat and smiling from ear to ear. The presentation has a unique vibe, and don’t expect to catch every word of the hip-hop and rap music. (I think you’re doing well if you catch 85 percent of the lyrics, but you WILL catch the entire story!) Note that in this thoroughly modernized adaptation, the comedic verve can be a bit naughty in spots. But on the nice side, it neatly bridges the cultural divides in our nation and is an astute commentary on the world we live in today. Watching the show live and in-person would most certainly be a wonderful addition to your holiday compendium. It is most definitely well worth seeing!

“Q Brothers Christmas Carol” is playing at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Avenue, Chicago, through December 23, 2021.

Tickets are $38–$56.

Performance schedule:

Wednesday, December 15 – 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 16 – 7:00 p.m.
Friday, December 17 – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 18 – 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 19 – 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 21 – 7:00 p.m.—LIMITED AVAILABILITY
Wednesday, December 22 – 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 23 – 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

For more information about “Q Brothers Christmas Carol” and to purchase tickets, please visit: https://www.chicagoshakes.com/plays_and_events/qbros_christmas_carol.

For general information about the Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier, go to: https://www.chicagoshakes.com/.

Every audience member attending the theater—including ALL children—must:

• Show proof of full Vaccination OR Negative COVID Test, either on a smartphone or a physical copy (at‑home tests not accepted). Children ages 5‑11 will be admitted with proof of one vaccine administered at least 14 days prior to performance OR Negative COVID Test.

• Present a current Photo ID.

• Wear a mask at all times.

To see a list of all COVID protocols, please check out: https://www.chicagoshakes.com/plays_and_events/subscribe/2122faqs/health.

Parking Garage- bring stub to front desk lobby of theater for discount verification.

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com , go to Review Round-Up and click at “Q Brothers Christmas Carol”.