‘Scrooge in Rouge’ at Inspired Acting Company: A Controlled Holiday Meltdown
Inspired Acting Company closes out its year with Scrooge in Rouge, a gleefully unhinged musical parody that takes A Christmas Carol, sets it on fire, and then roasts marshmallows over the ashes. Under the direction of Jeff Thomakos, this raucous production fully commits to chaos, crafting a holiday experience that thrives on speed, camp, and the very deliberate collapse of theatrical decorum. It’s loud, fast, and unapologetically ridiculous—and that’s precisely the point.
The show’s central conceit is as absurd as it is effective: after the majority of a traditional holiday production is sidelined by a mysterious outbreak of “ham,” three performers are left to portray every role in Dickens’ classic. What follows is a breathless parade of character swaps, corset malfunctions, accent whiplash, and narrative derailment. Thomakos leans into the farce with precision, allowing the mayhem to unfold without ever losing control of the room. The chaos is intentional, choreographed, and powered by razor-sharp timing.
[Warning: spoilers from The Inspired Acting Company’s Scrooge in Rouge are below!]
The cast & crew of Scrooge in Rouge
That timing is the lifeblood of the ensemble, and John DeMerell (Charlie Schmaltz), Jared Bugbee (Lottie Obbligato), and Amy Schumacher (Vesta Virile) rise to the challenge with impressive stamina and comedic agility. Each performer navigates a dizzying number of roles, often switching characters mid-sentence, mid-gesture, or mid-costume change. The success of Scrooge in Rouge depends entirely on the ensemble’s ability to move seamlessly and think faster than the audience can process—and this trio delivers.
DeMerell’s Charlie Schmaltz anchors the production with a deadpan sensibility that heightens the absurdity around him. His grounded approach serves as a comedic foil to the escalating madness, making each unraveling moment land harder. Bugbee’s Lottie Obbligato is a whirlwind of theatrical bravado, leaning fully into the camp with fearless abandon and impeccable comic rhythm. Schumacher’s Vesta Virile brings sharp wit and commanding presence, navigating the show’s most frantic transitions with clarity and control. Together, the trio functions less like three actors and more like a well-oiled comedic machine.
The necessity for seamless, quick changes becomes a running gag and a technical feat. Costume swaps are weaponized for laughs, turning what would normally be backstage mechanics into part of the performance itself. These transitions demand not only physical dexterity but impeccable timing; a fraction of a second off would collapse the joke. Instead, the ensemble treats each change as an opportunity to escalate the comedy, trusting the audience to keep up—and daring them to do so.
Musically, the production benefits from the guidance of musical director Daniel Bachelis, who ensures that even the most absurd numbers are executed with discipline and polish. The vocals are intentionally exaggerated but never sloppy, grounding the parody in real musicality. That contrast—tight musical execution paired with narrative anarchy—keeps the show from tipping into pure noise. The songs land because the performers commit fully, even when the lyrics and situations are spiraling out of control.
Unapologetic humor in this Inspired Acting Company holiday production
Not every joke hits with equal force, and the production is unapologetic about that. Some gags linger past their natural endpoint, daring the audience to either lean in or check out. But even these moments feel aligned with the show’s ethos: Scrooge in Rouge isn’t interested in refinement so much as commitment. Excess isn’t a flaw here—it’s a feature.
This is not a holiday show for audiences seeking warmth, sentimentality, or a family-friendly moral arc. It’s for those who appreciate theatrical anarchy, bawdy humor, and performers willing to detonate a beloved classic in the service of laughter. Inspired Acting Company’s Scrooge in Rouge stands as a confident reminder that seasonal theatre doesn’t have to play it safe to be successful.
Rowdy, relentless, and gleefully indecorous, this production offers a mischievous alternative to traditional holiday fare—and proves that sometimes the best way to honor a classic is to gleefully tear it apart.
Tickets: $38 standard; $32 for patrons under 30 or over 65
General seating; theatre opens one hour prior to curtain
Runtime: Approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes with one intermission
Content advisory: Bawdy humor, double entendre, and intentionally inappropriate comedy; recommended 14+
Scrooge in Rouge runs at the Inspired Acting company through December 21, so get your tickets now! Are you excited to catch this musical? Let us know on social media @BoxSeatBabes!
Exclusive Interview: Director Jeff Thomakos of Inspired Acting Company’s Scrooge in Rouge
