Adapted ‘A Christmas Carol’ Coming To The Little Theatre

The perennial Christmas classic by Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol will be produced by The Town Players this holiday season. The play itself, based on the book, was written by Christopher Schario, who said he wanted to honor the story while avoiding the usual clichés.

“Almost every word of this adaptation is Charles Dickens’ own beautiful language, which simply and directly tells the story of the redemption of a human soul,” said Mr Schario.

According to Pam Meister, Town Players’ chair: “It’s a whimsical version of an old favorite that’s sure to appeal to the entire family.”

In Mr Schario’s adaptation, a young child reading the classic tome instead of doing homework is magically transported into the story and becomes part of the action.

The show consists of a company of six actors, a fiddler, and a live, onstage sound effects person. Five of the actors morph between the many characters that inhabit the irascible Ebenezer Scrooge’s world — Bob Cratchit, the ghost of Jacob Marley, the three other ghosts that visit Scrooge on Christmas Eve, Tiny Tim and a host of others — while one actor plays Scrooge himself. The fiddler provides mood music, as well as traditional English folk and Christmas tunes.

Directed by Gene Golaszewski, A Christmas Carol will feature the talents of Clare Boyle, Kevin Braun, Miles Everett, Annette George, Steve Hoose, Ron Malyszka, and Mary Wilson.

Larry Deming will be the fiddler, and Nick Kaye is handling the lights and sound.

A Christmas Carol will open on Friday, November 20. Performances will continue through Sunday, December 6. Curtain will be Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, with Sunday matinees on November 29 and December 6 at 2 pm. Please note: Sunday, December 6th is a sold-out benefit performance.

Tickets are $18 for evening performances and $15 for matinees, while tickets are $12 for ages 12 and under for all performances.

Reservations can be made by calling the Town Players box office at 270-9144. Ticket payment is made at the box office the night of the show (cash or check only).

Town Players’ Little Theater is on Orchard Hill Road, off South Main Street (Route 25) in Newtown. For further information send email to TownPlayers@yahoo.com or call 270-9144.