‘A Huron County Christmas Carol’ at Blyth Festival Offers Local Twist to Classic Tale of Hope and Reflection

‘A Huron County Christmas Carol’ has returned for the third time to the Blyth Festival stage, bringing a local touch to the beloved Dicken’s classic.

Where in a Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is a miserly old man who despises Christmas, in ‘A Huron County Christmas Carol’, it is 2025 and Scrooge is buying all the feed mills from Windsor to Tobermory, Lake Huron to the Ottawa River.

With billions in the bank and Ontario’s farmers under his thumb, Scrooge sits on his riches and refuses to give a dime to help those less fortunate.

Yet, like the classic, on Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by three ghosts to warn him of the consequences of selfishness. Will Scrooge learn the value of compassion and generosity, leading to transformation into a kinder person?

Directed by Gil Garratt, ‘A Huron County Christmas Carol’ is chock full of live music by local songwriter John Powers.

“The music is amazing,” remarked Garratt.

“The musical numbers are full of local references to Goderich, Clinton, and Vanastra. One of the most popular songs in the show is ‘The Prettiest Girl this Side of Holmesville’. Audiences love feeling this deep sense of connection, as it widens the story for us.”

According to Garratt, from the black-and-white film version with Alastair Sim to the The Muppets’ Christmas Carol movie, everyone has a favourite version.

“As I observed my children watching these classics, I was moved to set the Christmas classic in rural Ontario, so local families can get right into the story,” explained Garratt.

“Growing up, every Christmas movie I ever saw was set either in London, England or New York City. As far as I understood it as a kid, Christmas took place somewhere between the chimney sweeps and the Macy’s window displays. I wanted to push back on that.”

Garratt adds that the play stays true to the heart of the story, the feelings, the sensation, its joy, charm and humour.

Yet, it’s rife with recognition.

This Blyth Festival production is not Ebeneezer Scrooge in mutton chops and a top hat. This is a Scrooge this community will recognize – Scrooge in a branded ballcap, an incredibly wealthy titan of agri-business who doesn’t believe in giving to local charities and supporting the community.

The people in his life are all recognizable as well – his nephew Fred is a small-scale organic farmer, Bob Cratchit works in the mill office and is underpaid and overworked, the ghost of Christmas Present is a diner waitress.

According to Garratt, the adaptation doesn’t just relocate the story, it embeds real local history.

For example, the Christmas party in Scrooge’s past at Fezziwig’s is reimagined as a Saturday Night Barndance broadcast on CKNX in Wingham.

Scrooge’s childhood in Goderich is spent overlooking the harbour before the salt mine was built, back when trains still ran over the Menesetung Bridge.

While retaining the classic moral arc of redemption, charity and community, ‘A Huron County Christmas Carol’ is framed around modern rural economics and social issues, giving it a contemporary vibe.

“A lot of what Dickens was writing about, the have and have-nots, are still very much with us,” Garratt remarked.

“In some ways, it’s even more pronounced.”

By making Scrooge a feed-mill tycoon who has bought up as many mills as he can, and now wields power over farmers, this adaptation draws on real economic and social tensions in rural Ontario.

Scrooge is cornering the market, building a monopoly and he has the farmers under his thumb.

“The show resonates with farmers themselves, or folks who have friends in farm communities, that feel the daily stress associated with issues of consolidation, independence and precarious commodity pricing,” added Garratt.

“This adaptation of the Christmas classic reminds people in farm communities that they’re not alone and it ends on a really positive note, filled with joyous affirmations about the human condition and hope.”

Garratt reiterates that where record levels of disparity are only growing, this is the story the community needs. It is a story that reminds us why we are called on to live in community with each other.

Additionally, Blyth Festival opened the door to great theatre and to helping locals in need through United Way Perth-Huron (UWPH) for one special performance.

On Wednesday, December 3, during the kick-off preview of ‘A Huron County Christmas Carol’, for every ticket sold, $5 has been allocated to support United Way’s Northern Huron Connection Centre at St. Paul’s Trinity Anglican Church in Wingham.

“The Blyth Festival is passionate about telling our local stories,” added Garratt.

“United Way’s Northern Huron Connection Centre is a great local story when it comes to offering caring, safety and support across the county. We’re proud to help where we can.”

The centre is a welcoming, safe space for the community’s most vulnerable. It provides a space to rest, access basic needs, healthcare services, identification assistance and partnerships with CMHA Huron Perth, providing important services and supports under one roof.

According to UWPH, last year there were 834 total visits to the centre and 27 people were housed.

Garratt explains this partnership was more a symbolic gesture, tying art directly to a real, social issue, aligning the spirit of the play to giving back, and supporting the community.

In a record-breaking year for attendance, Blyth Festival attracted many newcomers to the region through plays developed by Canadian playwrights.

Within 90 minutes of Blyth there are many other theatres offering Broadway hits and Shakespeare, so there is an abundance of choice.

Garratt says the fact people are recognizing the value of fostering original Canadian theatre in Blyth is inspiring.

“Our local adaptation of ‘A Christmas Carol’ is a natural season closer because it brings families together for warmth, reflection and local solidarity,” added Garratt.

Catch ‘A Huron County Christmas Carol’ at Blyth Festival, as it will continue to run at the Blyth Festival Theatre until December 21.

Runtime is two hours and 10 minutes, including intermission.

For full showtimes or ticket prices visit https://blythfestival.com/