Ebenezer Scrooge and Jacob Marley take centre stage in a new radio play of A Christmas Carol put on by KoC Productions and titled A Victorian Christmas this Dec. 8 and 9 at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons.
Interest in this classic story by Charles Dickens has peaked this year with the recent film, The Man Who Invented Christmas, that recounts how Dickens, down on his uppers, as he might have said in Victorian London colloquial language, quickly penned a tale to earn money – and the tale became his most well-known and best-loved story.
Dickens’ story will be told by costumed characters standing at the microphone, reading and acting out, as if at an old-fashioned broadcast at a radio station.
“Every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart,” says the old humbug himself, played with great gusto by Mac Dodge. Actor Richard Austin doubles up on parts, portraying the ghostly voice and appearance of the dead Jacob Marley and also becoming the servile Bob Cratchit, father to Tiny Tim (played by Malcolm MacKenzie).
Long-time radio play performer Mary Kenny plays the ghost of Christmas past while Coast newcomer Chris Lugar portrays a few roles, including that of the hearty Fezziwig. Tracy Uchida makes an elegant narrator and young Caine Uchida plays the part of the “remarkable child” that Scrooge greets on Christmas morn. Cast members include Suzanne Diamond and Glenda Sewards who both take on several parts.
This is director David Short’s seventh annual radio play and he turns his acting talents to becoming one of the spirits who visit Scrooge. He works with stage manager Cathie Finnegan.
Audience will be able to see behind the scenes as to how those off-stage sounds were made when they see Dick Finnegan and Malcolm MacKenzie bang doors and shuffle feet. They can also listen to some humorous home-made commercials, advertising the sponsors of the play: Swish, Gibsons Cinema, Coast Cable and Pastimes, among others.
The play will be blended with carols and songs from Arbutus Sounds Chorus under the direction of Deb Sneddon.
A Victorian Christmas is on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. at the Heritage Playhouse, Gibsons. Tickets are $15; students and seniors $10, available at Laedeli, The Blackberry Shop and at www.eventbrite.ca.
