Yew! How clever of Mister Osborne to time his autumn statement to coincide with the opening night of Callington Community College's production of A Christmas Carol. And how apt that the second night had to be cancelled because of the stubborn intransigence of his government's policy towards public sector pensions.

Like the Chancellor, Charles Dickens knew a thing about "ignorance" and "want" – except that in his case it was born of empathy, not enmity. It's just a pity that while public sector workers reluctantly withheld their labour in protest at the Government's decision to renege on past agreements, Mr Osborne, Mr Cameron, Mr Clegg and their coalition of toffs didn't take the time to re-read his Victorian classic. If they had they would surely be hanging their heads in shame. They might accuse public workers of all manner of sins, but how irresponsible and uncaring of this Government to pursue a permanent negotiation-strike. Echoing the unreconstructed, pre-epiphany Ebenezar Scrooge, you can almost hear Cameron and his Eton chums bellow in unison: "Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?"

But enough of these mean-spirited, misguided misery-guts. Let's get back to A Christmas Carol. Dickens' novella has become so familiar, so part of the national psyche, that it's easy to forget just what a work of genius it is. Published and set in 1843, it is rooted in the author's sympathy for the urban poor and disapproval of working conditions imposed by the era's industrial capitalism. With parallels to every subsequent time, not least our own, it is no wonder that each generation to discover the story takes it as their own and applies it to their own experiences.

The protagonist, miserly Mister Scrooge, is a brilliant creation; so much so that his name and favourite utterance (Humbug!) are part of everyday speech. Hearing Dickens' words afresh, in the hands of the young cast at Callington, makes a good case for it being on the curriculum – as well as essential reading for politicians. This production, complete with a strong, assured and individual evocation of the old tuss by James Ormsby, retains all the sparkle and wit of the original. There's a reason for that: this adaptation is simply a trimmed version of the master's words, so every line belongs to Dickens. And with him in the room it's hard to fail.

A cast of 60+ is a tall order to manage and direct, but there is an honesty and joy in the performances of, among others, Fred (James Hart), Fezziwig (Calvin Jordan), Bob and Mrs Cratchit (David Speare and Jess Cox) Topper (Callum MacKellar), and the host of storytellers confidently and expertly led by Esme Moore.

With no thanks to those Coalition curmudgeons, the show is on again tonight. So if you're in need of some early Christmas cheer, get along to Callington Community College before 7pm. Cheers n'gone.