Paul James Kruse and Linda Libby are standouts, pulling the strings of our holiday sentiments as Mr. & Mrs. Fezziwig and then as two wee ones from the Cratchit clan. Both are a delight — singing, dancing, and acting throughout the evening’s performance.

Van Norden’s Ebenezer Scrooge is deliciously executed. He catches the coldness of the wizened old miser with just the right touch of sauciness, keeping his performance in balance and never overdoing it. Like a ballet artist, he moves gracefully from mean-spirited behavior to a kinder, gentler, grandfatherly being. In short, he is superb.

So many boxes to open; so many things from the past to rediscover; can we use them all (Jacobs and Salovey must have wondered)? The Rep seems to think so as they bring back the shadow puppetry show from 1998, the Cratchit dinner scene from 2000, and the “He called me Bob?” scene from Christmas seasons past. Some are a bit dustier and worn than others and some might be better left in tightly sealed boxes or discarded, but it’s a difficult choice to make. The production could be better if pared down to 90 minutes without interruption.

The voices and music in this production sing out better than in past productions. Steve Gunderson (arrangements) and Leigh Scarritt (vocal coach) share in bringing about such edible results from the vocal tribe, which includes Bibi Valderrama (Tiny Tim), Jennifer Shelton (Belle, Ghost of Christmas Past) and others.

This year’s A Christmas Carol succeeds on many levels, and once again reminds us that, just like treasures stored in the attic, man’s soul needs a good dusting off to rediscover the joy within. We need to take the time and look within ourselves for Christmas past and present, and to prepare ourselves for however many Christmas futures we have left.