With all the silly Ebenezers that have tottered through our era’s “A Christmas Carol” adaptations, it’s easy to forget that our dear Mr. Scrooge is actually a big jerk.

The antidote to the Scrooge McDucks and 3-D Jim Carreys of the world comes in the form of local actor Nigel Gore, who portrays the iconic miser in “A Christmas Carol” at the Stoneham Theatre. With his non-cartoonish mutton chops and earnestly icy attitude, Gore brings believability to a role that’s often treated as a caricature.