Description

A Christmas Carol runs December 6-22 at the Black Box Theatre

Patrick Barlow, the adapter of this production of A Christmas Carol, directed by No Strings Theatre Company’s Artistic Director, Ceil Herman, is known to Black Box audiences for his ingenious and clever The 39 Steps and Ben Hur. These plays utilized small casts playing multiple characters receiving great reviews and playing to large audiences.

In the Black Box production, Scrooge is played by David Reyes, who has entertained audiences by deftly playing multiple roles in Greater Tuna, A Tuna Christmas, The 39 Nine Steps and Out of Sterno. Scrooge starts by asking if “everything is tickety-boo” to which Bob Cratchet replies “tickety-boo, sir.” The audience is immediately aware that this adaptation will be a kooky and entertaining deviation from classic Charles Dickens prose. The play is suitable for all ages and for children first being exposed to live theatre, a better starting play would be hard to find.

Nothing beats Dickens for Christmas enlightenment other than the pleasure of reading his little novel, “ A Christmas Carol. In Prose, being a Ghost Story of Christmas” published in 1843. This story is now very familiar and is a Christmas tradition. Ebenezer Scrooge, a miser who hates Christmas, is visited by thr ghost of his former partner, Jacob Marley, aa well as ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. As the play unfolds, Scrooge is able to understand and appreciate the joys of Christmas. Barlow’s adaptation is sprinkled with rich, traditional Christmas music adding to the entertainment.

The versatile ensemble cast in the Black Box production includes Autumn Gieb, who is also the Costume Designer, Bob Alvarez, Robert Quigley, Jose Luis Solorzano and Sandra Williams. Barlow’s adaptation is sprinkled with Traditional Christmas Music. Peter Herman designed the set and lighting, Autumn Gieb designed the costumes, and Darlene DeMundo designed the props. Bekah Taulbee is the light operator while Karen Buerdsell is sound and slide operator.

A Christmas Carol opens Friday, December 6. Preshow at 7:30 will feature music by Sierra Middle School students and the performance starts at 8 pm. Cookies and Champagne will be served following the performance. Following the opening on December 6, the other performances of “A Christmas Carol” are Fridays, December 13 and December 20 at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays, December 7, 14, and 21 at 8:00 p.m., Sundays, December 15 and December 22 at 2:30 p.m. and Thursday, December 19 at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets are $18.00 regular admission, $15.00 students and seniors over 65 and all seats on Thursday are $12.00. Discount coupon packs of 5 tickets with no expiration date are available for purchase ($85.00 for regular admission, $70.00 for students and seniors over 65) and make great Christmas gifts. thetheatregallery in the lobby of the Black Box contains artwork by local artists and Christmas tiles by Luci Bromberg

Director's Note

Director’s Note
NSTC has previously produced two other adaptations by Patrick Barlow, The 39 Steps directed by myself, and Ben Hur, directed in our past season by Autumn Gieb. Both utilized a few actors, creative scenic and properties design and were well received by our audiences. A Christmas Carol includes those challenges, with David Reyes playing Scrooge and a terrific ensemble cast playing the other parts. This version also has the inclusion of familiar and not so familiar Christmas carols. I am very grateful to Autumn Gieb who not only acts in the ensemble and costumed the play, for her help researching and directing the musical selections.  

A Christmas Carol is a regular addition to the holiday offerings and includes theatrical and film versions. In directing Barlow’s version, I wanted to look past the familiarity of the conventional Scrooge and Marley portraits in the other adaptations. Much of Scrooge’s adult behavior could be explained by the losses in his life, his mother, his sister, and his love. He says very simply, “Women leave.” I do not recall seeing this very moving scene between Scrooge and his mother in any other version. Marley is Scrooge’s friend. Whereas the two have similar goals in business while Marley is alive, his ghostly visit is to be helpful rather than to be frightening, and I have directed it that way. 

The terrific cast, creative production team, and I hope you enjoy our show. Special thanks to the Vista Middle School students for providing a live musical preshow on opening night.



From Charles Dickens (Author)
I have endeavoured in this ghostly little piece to raise the Ghost of an Idea which shall not put my readers out of humor with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly. Their faithful
Friend and Servant, C.D. December 1843



From Patrick Barlow (Adapter)
When I started out making theatre, sheer need was the priority and doing plays with one other actor, a chair, and a funny hat simply a way of surviving. Over the years however, as times have become somewhat less lean, I have discovered the sheer magic in nothing and the pure gold in simplicity. I hope this version of a Christmas Carol continues the tradition of Theatre making and encourages your audience to let loose their thoughts and create with you a brand new world for Mr. Scrooge.
Patrick Barlow London 18th May 2015

Credits

Director
Set & Light Design
Costume Design
Sound Design
Props Design
Producer
Fredrick, Ensemble
Ghost Of Christmas Present, Ensemble
Bob Cratchit, Ensemble
Ghost Of Christmas Yet To Come, Ensemble
Ebenezer Scrooge
Jacob Marley, Ensemble
Ghost Of Christmas Past, Ensemble
Light Operator
Sound Operator, Projectionist
Set Construction/ Scenic Artists
Technical Director
Shop Forman
Master Electrician
House Manager Coordinator

Reviews

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Seating

No seating plan has been posted.