If theater is ritual, little is more ritualized than the annual progression of families to see a production of A Christmas Carol.

The most populated of those takes place at Denver Center Theatre Company, which replaced its dark tale a few years ago with a brighter, longer musical by David de Berry and Richard Hellesen.

It has all the elements of the ritual, foremost a story in which audience members can tick off the elements as they go by. Jacob Marley shows up? Check. Festive Fezziwigs? Check. Scrooge's revelation? Check.

But the current production, directed by Bruce K. Sevy, feels at times like an overstuffed Victorian sofa. Kevin Copenhaver's costumes may be the stars of the show, a cavalcade of sumptuous fabrics, embroidery and color. Songs are sprinkled throughout the show, but serve merely as more embroidery. They are decorative, not instrumental, lending little to the tale, and the lack of a live orchestra demonstrates that this show is not being treated as a traditional musical.

There are treats here, primarily Philip Pleasants as Ebenezer Scrooge. He's never particularly scary, but he does cascade from cranky old bat to gleeful little boy in a way that provokes giggles.

Other characters barely make their mark: The Cratchit family is seen only in brief scenes and Tiny Tim doesn't get enough chance to register so that the final emotional wallop can occur.

The emotional impact frequently comes from Don Darnutzer's lighting design, working in congress with Vicki Smith's set. Early on, we get the spooky face of Marley (a mournful David Ivers) appearing in a door knocker; a moment later there are audible gasps at his clever entrance. Stephanie Cozart's ghost of Christmas past, trimmed in white fur, enters in a mystical memory where beams of light pierce the fog.

Part of the Christmas Carol ritual has always involved parents bringing children to the theater, often for the first time. But at more than two hours and laden with florid language, this version may test their patience. A little more surprise would go a long way toward provoking delight.

A Christmas Carol

* Grade: B-

* When and where: Through Dec. 27 in the Stage Theatre of the Denver Performing Arts Complex, Speer Boulevard and Arapahoe Street

* Cost: $36 and up

* Information: 303-893-4100