For the week of December 12 - 18, 2001

‘A Christmas Carol’

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By ADAM TANOUS
Express Arts Editor

While Charles Dickens’ classic tale "A Christmas Carol" has been told, staged and filmed countless times since it was first published in 1843, its central idea—that of moral transformation—will likely always resonate with audiences. It is so basic as to almost define the nature of being human. What’s more, Dickens peoples his story with vivid characters like Ebeneezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim.

Andrew Alburger and Renee Knappenberger rehearse "A Christmas Carol." Photo by Kirsten Shultz

Thursday at 7 p.m. marks the opening curtain for the Company of Fools production of "A Christmas Carol." Playwright Douglas Jones has adapted the story to the stage for the Fools. The play will run Thursdays through Sundays until Dec. 30 at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey. Curtain time is 7 p.m., except for the Sunday shows, which start at 3 p.m.

The original story of "A Christmas Carol" is of the miserly and mean Ebeneezer Scrooge. On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by an apparition of his deceased business partner, Marley. Then, the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas As Yet To Come take Scrooge on a tour of his bleak life, past, present and future.

Scrooge sees his loveless life amount to little more than a headstone no one will visit. It is a realization that causes Scrooge to change his ways. With new kindness toward Cratchit and Tiny Tim, Scrooge is transformed.

Starring in the Fools’ production are Andrew Alburger, Everett Frazer Ford, John Glenn, Renee Knappenberger, Jennifer Perry, Richard Rush and Russell Simone Wilson. Denise Simone is directing the production.

Simone said that this adaptation is about 50 minutes long and, though not a musical, it is what she terms a "play with music." A pianist will be on stage at all times accompanying carolers during the play. There will also be carolers in the lobby as the audience enters the theater. It is the company’s hope to "expand the experience beyond the footlights," Simone said.

To that end, the Company of Fools has also organized a series of events around the production. On Thursdays and Sundays, students of the Sun Valley Summer Symphony Music Conservatory will perform in front of the theater 30 minutes before curtain time. The Community Carolers will offer up some holiday songs at Friday and Saturday performances, again 30 minutes before curtain time.

On Friday, Dec. 14 and 21, there will be a Holiday Gift Fair in the E.G. Willis Building from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Local artisans will set up shop and sell items such as hand decorated cookies, pottery, jewelry and hand painted bird houses.

Of the six actors in the show, all but Alburger (Scrooge), will play two to four parts and will be on stage in some form at all times. Great use will be made of sheets—for effects, costuming and as sets—because the production will emphasize the ghost story aspect of the tale, Simone said.

As to her role as director, she tries to "remove obstacles for the actors and not to impose too much." Of late, Simone has been more likely to be on stage than directing. She likened her return to directing to "not exercising for a long time."

She recognized the difficulty of doing a play that has been produced on television, film, on Broadway and on countless regional stages. But she added, "Since Sept. 11, each story we do resonates strongly." Putting on this play is a way to reaffirm the "hope that any of us can awaken from our darkness and have new opportunity and hope."

 

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