By Barbara Anne Kirshner
For an excellent way to mark the beginning of the Christmas season, Catch Theater Three the production of A Christmas Carol Now celebrate 40 years of producing this perennial favorite.
What returns to this Port Jefferson theater every year to relive the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge of a damn casfarde into a cheerful and charitable gentleman? It is probably the love and care of the family, three relatives are infused annually in every detail of this show.
The audience is immersed in the Christmas spirit even before the show begins with a choir dressed in Victorian outfit gathered at the lower level of the theater that sings carols in a Christmas decoration context. After the final note, the choir is presented by indicating to the audience to go to the main stage area where the show is about to begin.
The artistic director, Jeffrey Sanzel, has played the role of Ebenezer Scrooge since 1990. When asked what returns to the role every year, he replied, “It is a role of a huge range. Anger, frustration, fear, sadness, repentance, hope, transformation. It is rich and there is always more to discover.” Sanzel becomes Scrooge while leading us through the dynamics of a tortured man who experiences a revelation that leads him to a happy and humanitarian result.
That last sense of kindness that rises above human weaknesses could be the message we all need to visit each year again.
Charles Dickens novel A Christmas Carol First published in 1843 it has been counted and counted on stage and in numerous films, including the memorable Alastair Sim version in 1951.
This disturbing story faces good versus evil with a good winner at the end. The story begins with Scrooge, an aging old, fast to condemn Christmas and anything considered charitable. He rejects an dinner invitation from his nephew Fred (Steven Uihlein), makes fun of when he is asked for a donation to feed the poor and mistreats his employee poorly paid and with excessive work Bob Cratchit (Ray Gobes, Jr.) who timidly asks for Christmas day so he can spend it with his family.
It is Christmas Eve and Scrooge gets into bed, but is soon surprised by the spectrum of his former commercial partner, Jacob Marley (Stephen T. Wangner), who died seven years before tonight. Marley appears from the lower world ingrained in red light. He is condemned to suffer for all eternity tied to heavy clanque chains with each link that represents another sin he committed during his life. Marley tells Scrooge that he still has time to escape this eternal torment without rest, without peace. Informs Scrooge that will be visited by Three Spirits, The Ghost of Christmas Pass (Cassidy Rose O'Brien), the Christmas gift ghost (Scott Hofer) and the ghost of Christmas to come (Steven Uihlein). He warns Scrooge to pay attention to his words so that he can escape the destiny that he must now bear through all eternity. Wanger offers a terrifying performance like Marley. His seven years of constant suffering seem so pronounced in each movement and facial expression that Scrooge would be a fool not to attend his warning.
Even before Scrooge can ignore Marley's ghost as a bad dream, O'Brien's Christmas past appears. She is a beautiful frozen vision covered with a white Victorian dress with small glitters that shine while walking. She takes total control of each scene forcing Scrooge to relive her miserable kidnapped childhood to a boarding school. It is revealed that his mother died while giving birth to him, which makes his father could not undress the child. He sits alone at Christmas. He entered his sister, Fan, played with compassion for Ash Stalker. She gives the young Scrooge the gift of a snow balloon and the surprise that she returns home during the holidays permanently. But this visit at home only lasts a three -day stay before his father returns him to the boarding school.
The Christmas past takes Scrooge to a Christmas party organized by its first employer, Mr. Fezziwig (Scott Hoefer) and his wife, Mrs. Fezziwig (Ginger Dalton). Both Hoefer and Dalton fill this scene with such fun.
This same night, Scrooge proposes to his daughter Belle, a charm play and balance by Julia Albino. The commitment is shortly when she confronts it by saying: “Another idol has replaced me … a golden one.” With a broken heart, Scrooge returns to his room for Christmas in the past, but the break is illusory when the ghost of the Christmas gift (Scott Hofer) appears, wrapped in a green velvet layer with perennial leaf crown surrounding his head. It explodes in the sardonic laugh while delivering the message that we all have options and those elections have consequences. Hofer's Christmas past fills the stage with its shameless and rimbombant character. He shows Scrooge the house of his humble employee Bob Cratchit (Ray Gobes, Jr.) who struggles to keep his great family, especially for his fragile son, Tiny Tim, (adorable by Stanley Zinger), who without adequate medical attention will surely die. Gobes, Jr. gives a tender representation of a family man who supports a lot in an effort to safeguard his beloved family.
The final spirit, the ghost of Christmas that is yet to come (Steven Uihlein) is a terrifying appearance that is promoted on tunics tunned on the Scrooge and pointing to its careless tombstone. When Scrooge asks to see the sadness for any death, the ghost shows Bob Cratchit and his family crying for the death of Tiny Tim.
This is a death that does not have to happen and Scrooge is determined to change this result for Tiny Tim and the Cratchit family. With the beneficial organization blooming in his heart, Scrooge becomes dizzy and resolves to repair his paths.
The director, Jeffrey Sanzel, has gathered a star set, large and adjusted with many actors assuming multiple roles.
Sanzel adapted this show for the stage with original music and sound effects designed by Ellen Michelmore and an additional musical design by William Roslak.
Scenic design, lighting, sound, costume design and musical direction are essential for A Christmas Carol and this superlative staff consists of Randall Parsons, Robert W. Henderson, Jr., Tim Haggerty, Brad Frey, Jason Allyn, Karin Bagan and Melissa Troxler. Everyone has joined forces to create a party of looks and chilling sounds.
Three theater A Christmas Carol It is a cheerful gift wrapped with a large red arch and delivered this holiday season that extends to everyone!
Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol It extends until December 28 in Theater Three in 412 Main Street, Port Jefferson. (631) 928-9100. www.theatrethree.com
Photos: Steve Ayle and Theater Three
Author: Saxon
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