There is nothing greater than going out with friends and family to get lost in a performance with lively music and dancing.

Exit 7 Theater, located at 37 Chestnut Street in Ludlow, presents plays (often musicals) with actors of all ages each season. This year’s annual holiday play was A Christmas Carol.

My great grandmother and I can be found sitting in the front row of almost every play at Exit 7. It’s the perfect way to get out of the house and spend quality time together while relaxing and enjoying quality entertainment.

This time, we went to UNO’s restaurant on Boston Road before the play to enjoy a delicious meal of our choice. My grandma got a cheesy flatbread pizza and I enjoyed a palatable chicken caesar salad.

When we showed the friendly waitress our tickets for that night’s play, 20% of the money spent on our order was donated to the Exit 7 Theater. What a perfect way to enjoy a meal and have the cost go to a good cause.

When we arrived at the theater we were greeted by kind children who ushered us to our seats. The seats are brand new, with thick and comfortable cushions. It’s almost like sitting on a couch at home.

The play opened with a soothing piece of music played by the band and then the curtains opened to reveal the actors.

Peter Hicks played Ebenezer Scrooge very well, especially considering his theater career only began three years ago. He was able to properly demonstrate the drastic transition that Scrooge goes through after realizing that he should make the most of his life before it’s too late.

There were many young yet talented actors as well. My favorite was Tiny Tim, played by a small, eight-year-old boy named Rowan Healy. Despite his young age, Healy stood on the stage, leaning on his little crutch, and sang a solo called “The Lost Traveler.” His tiny frame and childish face was a perfect fit for the disabled Tiny Tim character.

My grandmother thought Peter Scully, who played the Ghost of Christmas Present, was a comical character. His deep voice was fun to listen to as he sang and his loud laugh was contagious.

Overall, the play was a success. The Cratchit family’s mourning of Tiny Tim’s death touched the audience to a point of tears. I was on the edge of my seat when Scrooge realized that he was the dead man shown to him by the third Ghost.

The sound effects were dramatic, making the appearance of Marley’s Ghost seem more real, and the music played by the band was fitting for every scene, whether pleasant or tragic.

The play was about three hours long with an intermission in between the two acts. During this time, the audience were able to use the restroom, buy candy or popcorn to eat in the cafeteria, or purchase raffle tickets for the 50/50 raffle.

The 50/50 raffle is an opportunity to win half of the money raised by selling the tickets. An arm’s length of tickets costs $5.

At the end of intermission, the house manager, Pam Rose, picked a raffle ticket to determine who would win the $59 they had to give away. Unfortunately, I was not the winner.

I would recommend this play to anyone who is looking for a comfortable place to enjoy music and entertainment with their loved ones. Exit 7 displayed yet another wonderful rendition of a well known story.