Deck the Hall with Dickens
By Tom Wachunas
“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.” ― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
THEATRE: A Christmas
Carol, from The Players Guild Theatre, at Mary J. Timken Theatre in the
Fine Arts Building of Kent State University at Stark, 6000 FRANK AVENUE NW,
NORTH CANTON, OH/ Performances through December 18, 2022 / Box Office 330 – 244
– 3224 / Dates, tickets, and performance information at:
https://playersguildtheatre.com/a-christmas-carol
Background, and
cast/crew information at:
https://stagemag.broadwayworld.com/classic/A-CHRISTMAS-CAROL-2022-The-Players-Guild-Theatre-21706
As a consumerist society in a mad world, what
practices have we adopted to truly honor and savor the who and the why
of Christmas? Conversely, how many of us have become souled-out and
surrendered to the what of the ‘holidays’ - namely all the feckless
commercialism and trivial superficialities we routinely heap upon them? For the
moment, let’s forget jolly old elves, Rudolf, and Red Ryder Range 200-Shot BB
guns. For the moment, let’s celebrate the efficacious conflation of classic
literature and enthralling live theatre as one powerful device by which we can embrace
the essence of Christmas.
To that commendable
end, The Players Guild Theatre is currently presenting, for the 41st
year, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. This year’s exhilarating new
production, in its new home, was adapted for the stage by Beth Knox. The impressive scenic and authentic
costume designs by Joshua Erichsen include meticulously rendered architectural
facades and interior room sets that rotate scene-by-scene on an ingenious,
large turntable. Beyond the luscious choral harmonies delivered by the Dickens
Singers, the superb live music from the six-piece orchestra was arranged,
composed and conducted by Steve Parsons, who also directed the amply talented
cast.
As the dark, sullen
Ghost of Jacob Marley, Henrick Sawczak will sting you to your bones as he whips
and cracks his heavy chains through the air and on the floor like bolts of
lightning. Ashley Luli plays the Ghost of Christmas Past with charming,
childlike innocence, imbued with a healthy dose of grown-up wisdom. Robert
Trushel’s magnanimous Ghost of Christmas Present is all infectious ebullience
until he leaves Scrooge on a very loud note of angry warning. As Fred,
Scrooge’s nephew, Sam Marazita gives us a heartwarming picture of irrepressible
optimism and willingness to love his unloveable uncle. Equally heartwarming are
Matthew Heppe as Bob Cratchit, and Gabriel Amiot as his son, Tim, in their earnest
and tender portrayals of high-spirited gratitude even in the face of cruel,
humbling circumstance. All of the cast members – adults and children
alike – perform with palpable, invigorating credibility.
Finally, then, Jim
Graysmith’s presentation of Ebenezer Scrooge is an absolutely compelling embodiment
of one man’s cathartic transformation from vitriolic misanthrope into lifelong
disciple of selfless generosity and dispenser of joy. Even in the scenes when
he’s not directly a part of the action, as he looks at the proceedings from a
distance, we can still see clearly the sharpened, captivating expressions of
genuine delight and wonder, or sorrow, or painful soul-searching on his face.
In the 1843
introduction to his popular novella, Dickens wrote to his readers that he hoped
his “Ghostly little book” would “haunt their houses pleasantly.” Did he have
any idea of the urgency and relevance his story would still have nearly two
centuries later? Talk about timeless storytelling.
The Players Guild’s production isn’t about
capturing the spirit of the tale only for the sake of feel-good entertainment. Call
it a benevolent contagion, releasing that spirit into our active lives. The
continued tradition of keeping this beautifully faceted, lustrous gem of a narrative
shining is truly a necessary labor of love. Maybe all we should want for Christmas
is to see more of us become redeemed Scrooges - instruments of hope, healing
and light for those who desperately need it in an ever-darkening world.
Meanwhile, Thank
You, Players Guild Theatre, for the blessing of your artful and inspiring
agency in haunting our lives pleasantly.
