For its 25th anniversary production of "A Christmas Carol," through Dec. 20, Civic Theatre of Allentown, decided to mount a scourge of Scrooges.

Three who played Scrooge over the years alternate in the lead role of the curmudgeon whose Christmas Eve redemption is at the heart of the Charles Dickens' novella adapted to the Civic stage by William Sanders, Civic artistic director who directed the play, and Sharon Lee Glassman, Civic Board of Directors President, who played a female version of Scrooge onstage at Civic.

Civic's production culminates with seven different actors who played Scrooge reprising their roles in 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 performances, including Sharon and Barry Glassman, Pat Kelly, Tony Kohl, Jim Long, Tom Onushco and Stan Zukowski. Long and Zukowski alternate with Barry Glassman during the show's run.

For this review of "Christmas Carol," seen Dec. 7, Barry Glassman held forth as old Ebenezer Scrooge. Glassman conveys the crochettyness of the old guy, with touches of mirth and mania until getting in touch with his inner St. Nick. Then, Glassman glows as a kindly gentleman with a new look on life.

"A Christmas Carol" is one-part fairy tale, one-part horror story and one-part science fiction. The main characters certainly reflect this.

The Ghost of Jacob Marley (Goran D. Zdravkovic) is chain-rattling chilling. He's surely Scrooge's worst nightmare.

The Ghost of Christmas Past (JoAnn Wilchek-Basist) cuts quite a swath in a silvery dress with a hat so large it might register on radar screens.

The Ghost of Christmas Present (Daniel Becker) is a jovial figure, not unlike the season's Santa.

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (Jaeden Reppert) is cloaked in black with an ominous outstretched finger.

The Civic production, with Costume and Lighting Design by Will Morris, Hair and Wigs by Kim Danish, Set Design by Jason Sherwood and Sound Design by Helena Confer, has plenty of eerie sounds, multi-hued lights and fog.

Civic's production contains lots of snippets and verses of holiday songs. There appears to be a pre-recorded instrumental soundtrack.

One can see why the theater aisles are used for entrances and exits. The Civic "Christmas Carol" cast is huge.

There's a Cast of 47 (by my count), plus an Ensemble of 17, and Urchins total 24 and Party Kids number 11, depending on whether it's the Ivy or Holly cast.

That adds up 99 -- nearly 100. And they all gather on stage for the sing-along finale.

Wilchek-Basist is Associate Director - Young Actors.

My vote for the best credit goes to Dee Cameron Rhoads as Urchin Wrangler.

Patricia Welle is Associate Director. Sanders is also Choreographer, with Samantha Stein as Assistant Choreographer.

Organ music of Christmas carols precedes the show.

Tickets: Civic Theatre Box Office, 527 N. 19th St., Allentown; CivicTheatre.com, 610-432-8943