THOSE American festive movies showing throughout the day on TV at this time of year are soppy and predictable.

We all know the protagonists are made for each other, but they fall out, only to finally get together in time for a happy Christmas. Ahhh.

Well, I’ve got news for you – Charles Dickens got there first, except his version 180 years ago was anything but soppy and predictable.

Who doesn’t know the story of A Christmas Carol?

If you don’t, it basically involves a grumpy, mean businessman spreading his misery before finally coming round to create the best Christmas anyone could wish for.

His old partner Jacob Marley and three spirits give him a glimpse of the past, the present and the future and bring him to his senses.

Hopefully that’s not a spoiler alert as Taunton Brewhouse is staging the musical A Christmas Carol until Saturday, December 30, with a local twist.

It’s Christmas Eve and we’re introduced to a young girl waiting for the delayed Taunton to Paddington train.

She delves into a mysterious old book to take the audience on a magical journey for the whole family.

There’s plenty of foot-stomping and clap-along original music to accompany the action as efforts are made to convince Scrooge to change his ways.

I’m not sure Dickens was aware Taunton was Scrooge’s birthplace, but at one point the old meany is transported to the town, name dropping the cobbles of Bath Place and the river. And the stairs to the balcony bring to mind 40 Steps, across the railway line off Staplegrove Road.

Some ingenious puppetry is at play for the spirit scenes and there were a few ‘wows’ as Scrooge falls into a grave.

A number of top notch actors have been brought together for the Pleasure Dome Theatre Company production.

And it was pleasing to see several local youngsters not looking at all out of place alongside the professionals.

Apparently Dickens called his story A Christmas Carol because he believed it would be repeated over the years to bring people together just as carol singing spread joy and brought families together.

If you book your seat for the Taunton Brewhouse, you’ll see he wasn’t wrong.