“Corny jokes, silly puns, and a few modern political references for adults. This clever twist on a beloved Christmas classic provides entertainment, perfect for an afternoon or evening at the theatre during the Christmas holiday season.”

It’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ I’ve never imagined.

Thanks to writer and director Phil Nero’s clever twist on the iconic Dickens tale, complete with the panto stamp of proverbial boos and hisses, local geographical spots and over-the-top sendups, I will never see Tiny Tim in the same light during Christmases yet to come.

Dreamco Theatre’s skewering of the classic Christmas story is just plain ol’ fun, especially on those days between Christmas and New Year’s when families might wonder what to do with the kids.

Don’t expect any messages to ponder on the way home because there ain’t any.

This time around, in Nero’s rendition, it’s not Ebenezeer Scrooge (Josh Doig) who needs to learn about the spirit of Christmas. Instead, it’s the dastardly adult Tim (Christopher Wilson) who is no longer tiny. He’s towering and burly but has grown into a childish, petulant and blustery adult who likes to throw his weight around. He has returned to London from America, where he plans to take over the family business of Scrooge and Marley. Add the sassy Cratchit housekeeper Fiona (Madison Sekulin) into this mix and stir in a quaint array of young, impressionable and smiling youth from around the local Whitby area who play the Humbugs and the Gingerbreads.

Fun! Wow! (with thanks to the borrowed Fantasy Island theme park moniker from long ago. Shows you how old I am).

Dreamco faced a challenge in presenting the show. A couple of the pantomimes I attended in Toronto and Port Hope were performed before Christmas Day. Additionally, Christopher Wilson, disguised at the beginning of the show, explained to the audience what to do when specific characters appeared on stage. I initially got the impression that the kids around me were eager to participate; however, as the plot progressed, they seemed to lose interest as they focused on following the storyline.

That’s a good thing.

So, I led some of the booing and hissing, which seemed to perk the kids up a bit more.

Nero, Dreamco’s Artistic Director, had a smile on his face in the lobby after the show, and it said it all.

He wanted the audience and the cast and crew to enjoy themselves.

I did. It looked like the actors did, and so did audience members who sat around me and my guest.

That’s all that matters and the very reason behind staging a panto.

Nero’s creative team paid attention to theatrical details, which added to the overall enjoyment.

Alex and Carmen Amini are to be congratulated for their terrific work in costuming the three principal players. Christopher Wilson’s top hat and tails catch the eye at the top of the show. Josh Doig’s Mrs. Cratchit outfit reminded me of Dan Chameroy’s Plumbum getup worn in The Wizard of Oz panto now at Toronto’s Winter Garden Theatre. Madison Sekulins’ dress as the housekeeper Fiona aptly reminded me of the Victorian era of the story. I was also told the young members of the company also worked on selecting their own specific costumes. Some nice touches there as the clothing gelled nicely together.

Joe Falzon’s ‘Villain’ artwork is terrific. Alex Konc’s work in Audio and Brandon Rideout’s in Lighting is on par. I could hear the lyrics to each of the songs. Rideout’s lighting effectively casts eerie shadows when necessary.

Phil Nero directs with a flair for fun. He made a smart choice in casting local young people from the area to be part of the show. Kalie Hunter's choreography aptly fits the song renditions. There’s no musical director listed in the program, but a couple of the song selections made me laugh out loud. To list them here would spoil the fun of the moment. There’s a nice balance between the pre-recorded music and the singers.

The three-member principal cast does a bang-up job of telling the story.

Christopher Wilson is a blowhard hoot as the towering Tiny Tim (the intentional oxymoron still makes me smile). Josh Doig’s Scrooge made me laugh out loud again at the end of the play in the costume he wears, which is a far cry from the traditional Scrooge we know in the iconic story. Madison Sekulin’s sassy and saucy Fiona, with a soaring singing voice, certainly made me pay attention.

In his Director’s Programme Note, Phil Nero wrote he is proud of this production and the team that worked tirelessly to make it happen.

Thank you, Phil and team, for the Christmas gift during these twelve days.

Go and see ‘Another Christmas Carol: The Panto Sequel’ before it closes on December 31.

Running Time: Approximately one hour and 45 minutes, including one intermission.

‘Another Christmas Carol’ runs until December 31 at the Whitby Centennial Building, 416 Centre Street South, Whitby. Tickets are available at dreamcotheatre.com or at the door. Matinee performances are at 2 p.m. and evening performances are at 7 p.m.