Over the 50 years the Guthrie Theater’s been presenting Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” no adaptation has engaged me as much as the current one created by Lavina Jadhwani.

She developed the idea of having Dickens’ eloquently clever narration delivered by a kind of Greek chorus of 1840s Londoners, which serves to emphasize that the self-isolating and miserable Ebenezer Scrooge is part of a community, whether he likes it or not. And that a key to his transformation is the desire to find joy through connection with others.

Jadhwani died of cancer in September, and I found myself wondering after Friday night’s opening performance if that loss isn’t lingering over this year’s production. Both Guthrie Artistic Director Joseph Haj and the current director, Addie Gorlin-Han, have spoken of

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