New Rep's Take on A Christmas Carol

by Frank Furnari

New Rep Reviewer

Upon entering the Arsenal Center for the Arts, I was greeted by several cast members singing Christmas carols. After several carols, we were beckoned to join them in the theater. After the audience was settled, the cast marched into the theater, still caroling and began the show on a lovely note.

Music, mostly in the form of Christmas carols and a couple original songs, features prominently in this production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, adapted by former New Rep Artistic Director Rick Lombardo, but this is not a musical. Music appears many times within a scene, in between scenes, and as underscoring, although sometimes it was difficult to hear the actors over it. The music served more to set the tone rather than to further the story. The piece felt like several clips interspersed between narration and singing. This format did not draw me into the story and some of the elements such as the lost souls flying about and the ghost of Christmas future seemed almost ridiculous and made me want to laugh. I believe, however, that this could be an entertaining evening for families with kids.

The A-frame set served as a great backdrop with different elements coming on stage to create the various locations. Of special note is the set of Scrooge’s house where the ghost of Jacob Marley makes a grand entrance. Scrooge, played by Paul D. Farwell, has the right mix of humbug turned to joy and portrays a convincing Scrooge. He has played Scrooge at New Rep for several years and you may remember him when he appeared earlier this season in New Rep’s production of Mr. Roberts as The Captain. The entire ensemble is strong and each is a good singer, making the carols enjoyable. In the final scene when Scrooge wakes up on Christmas morning and begins spreading Christmas cheer, I found myself finally getting drawn into the story as it is hard not to at that moment to feel the holiday cheer that this story tries to convey. I only wish that the story drew me in sooner.

Meet the Christmas Carol Cast - 2008

SOFIA JULIA HAUSER - (Tiny Tim) A big fan of Bollywood, Sofia also enjoys karate, skiing, piano, biking & drawing. She has appeared in Bye Bye Birdie, Willie Wonka & The Chocolate Factory and Cats.

Meet the Christmas Carol Cast - 2008

BROOKE HARDMAN is thrilled to make her New Rep debut after relocating to the area from Chicago last year. Her Chicago credits include Man From Nebraska (Steppenwolf), The Doctor’s Dilemma (Writer’s Theatre), The Romance Cycle: Pericles & Cymbeline (Court Theatre), Voices From Jerusalem (The Next Theatre), The Vow (Stage Left) and Nathan the Wise (Chicago Festival of the Arts) among many others. Brooke was also an Artist in Residence at The Court Theatre for three seasons where she taught Shakespeare to high school students on Chicago’s south side as part of their Artists in the Schools initiative. Her regional credits include Portia in Julius Caesar (Montana Shakespeare in the Parks), Street Scene, The Winter’s Tale, and Annabella in ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Mary Stuart and The Last Hurrah (Huntington Theatre Company), Henry IV, parts 1 & 2 and Lainie Wells in Two Rooms at The Vineyard Playhouse where she was also a staff member for the 2007 and 2008 seasons. New York credits include Kathy in Moonchildren, and Desiree in Pains of Youth (Act2 & Williamstown Theatre Festival at HERE). She has also performed as a stilt walker with Chicago’s Redmoon Theatre Company and the punk rock marching band Mucca Pazza. Brooke is a founding member of Shack Productions, an independent film company that has produced nationally distributed feature films, documentaries and several short films that have been screened at festivals and theatres across the country. Brooke has trained with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and Shakespeare & Company and holds a BFA in acting from Boston University’s College of Fine Arts. She is currently the Artistic Director of ArtFarm Enterprises, a sustainable arts organization located on the island of Martha’s Vineyard where she lives with her husband Brian Ditchfield.

Meet the Christmas Carol Cast - 2008

BECKY WEBBER

Playing the roles of Belle & Hermione, Becky is a 2008 graduate of Brandeis University. She spent the past summer playing fiddle in the Commonwealth Shakespeare production of As You Like It. Other credits include The Berkshire Theatre Festival.

About Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol

Early in 1843, as a response to a government report on the abuse of child laborers in mines and factories, Dickens vowed he would strike a "sledge-hammer blow . . . on behalf of the Poor Man's Child." That sledge-hammer was A Christmas Carol.

It only took Dickens about six weeks to write A Christmas Carol. A Christmas Carol was first published in 1843. Initially six thousand copies of the book were printed. More copies were ordered after the first printing was sold in only five days.

At the time Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol, Christmas wasn't commonly celebrated as a festive holiday. In A Christmas Carol, Dickens' descriptions of feasting, games and family unity combined with his message that Christmas was a time "when want is keenly felt and abundance rejoices" helped revive popular interest in many Christmas traditions that are still practiced today.

In 1867, Dickens read A Christmas Carol at a public reading in Chicago. One of the audience members , Mr. Fairbanks, was a scale manufacturer. Mr. Fairbanks was so moved that he decided to "break the custom we have hitherto observed of opening the works on Christmas day." Not only did he close the factory on Christmas day, but he gave Christmas turkeys to all of his employees.

Meet the 2008 Christmas Carol Cast!

During rehearsal and the run of the show, I'll be introducing you to some of the Christmas Carol cast members. We begin with one of our youngest, Victoria Sarkisian, who'll be playing Alice Cratchit.

Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Victoria Sarkissian is a bright 1st grade student enrolled at St. Stephen's Armenian Elementary School. She is talented in singing, dancing and acting. She loves to be in the spotlight. Victoria has appeared in the 11th, 12th and 13th annual recitals for Abaka Armenian School for the Performing Arts. She is currently enrolled in her fourth year with Abaka. Victoria values her family and friends. She is a very nurturing and caring big sister to her 3-year-old brother, Philip. She enjoys swimming, biking, reading, arts & crafts and building puzzles. Victoria aspires to become a teacher one day.

We'll be starting rehearsal tomorrow. Always a very exciting time and more so this year with all of the new cast members joining the Christmas Carol family! Come back for more posts and buy your tickets now!

God Bless Us, Every One!

It's that time again!

New Rep's production of CHARLES DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL, now in it's fourth year, promises to be especially memorable this season.

First, our director, Rick Lombardo will be leaving New Rep in January to accept the position of Artistic Director with the San Jose Repertory Theatre. It's a wonderful opportunity for Rick and we all wish him well in this exciting endeavor. Christmas in Watertown won't be the same without him. Hopefully, New Rep, Arsenal Center For The Arts and the Watertown Children's Theatre will continue to produce Mr. Lombardo's intelligent, moving, literate adaptation of Mr. Dicken's holiday classic for many years to come. Next season, perhaps Scrooge will be visited by one additional spirit . . . the Spirit of Producing Artistic Director Past. Good luck, Rick! We'll try to make your last Christmas Carol the best yet!

This season, we'll be joined by several new cast members. It's always exciting to add new faces to a long running show. Of course, we change the children's cast every year. This season marks the addition of a new Ghost Of Christmas Past, Ghost Of Christmas Present, and, Bob Cratchit! Don't worry! Many of your old favorites have returned. Peter Haydu will still be scaring the kids silly as the Ghost Of Jacob Marley. Dawn Tucker will continue to bring her warmth, humor and incredible musicianship to Mrs. Cratchit (among others). Will Keary is thankful that I'm returning as Scrooge because that means he gets to return as Young Scrooge! Several of our child actors are returning in new roles that are suited to their advancing years. Take a look at the cast list. Maybe you know someone in this year's production:

Kristina Ayanian: Fan, Ensemble
Peter Davenport*: Bob Cratchit, Lighthouse Man 2, Ensemble
Claire Dickson: Ensemble
Paul D. Farwell*: Scrooge
Nathan Greess: Turkey Boy, Ensemble
Brooke Hardman*: Ghost of Christmas Past, Elizabeth, Mrs. Dilber, Ensemble
Sofia Julia Hauser: Tiny Tim, Ensemble
Peter Edmund Haydu*: Jacob Marley, John (Belle’s husband), Miner Father, Business Man 1, Old Joe: Ensemble
Virginia Jay: Martha Cratchit, Ensemble
Will Keary: Young Scrooge, Lighthouse Man 1, Undertaker's Man, Ensemble
Samson Kohanski: Fred, Ship's Pilot, Ensemble
Chuck Muckle*: Mr. Fezziwig, Collecting Man 1, Business Man 2, Ghost of Christmas Present
Will Osborn: Peter Cratchit, Boy Scrooge 2, Ensemble
Joel Perez: Collecting Man 2, Dick Wilkins, Topper, Ship's Watch, Business Man 3, Ensemble Victoria Sarkissian: Alice Cratchit, Ensemble
Julian Schepis: Willie Cratchit, Boy Scrooge 1, Ensemble
Katrina Shinay*: Mrs. Fezziwig, Edna, Molly, Ensemble
Lily Steven: Belinda Cratchit, Ensemble
Dawn Tucker*: Mrs. Cratchit, Miner's Wife, Ensemble
Becky Webber: Belle, Hermione, Ensemble

* - member of Actor's Equity Association

We're thrilled to have our creative team back! Our erstwhile Director/Adaptor/Composer, Rick Lombardo who will be assisted this year by Artistic Associate, Bridget Kathleen O'Leary; the tremendously talented Anna Lackaff will return as Musical Director/Arranger, working her magic to make us all sound great; that terpsichorean tornado, Ilyse Robbins will stage her womderful dance numbers; and, Carola Morrone will make all the magic happen as our Stage Manager.

In later posts, I'll be telling you more about our cast members, new and returning. And, we'll let you in on some of the backstage secrets that make CHARLES DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL such a magical adventure!

Talk to you soon! Until then, Bah Humbug!

Scrooge
aka - Paul Farwell