With Christmas right around the corner, what could be better than a night of carols and a heartwarming tale of redemption? This weekend, theater lovers can celebrate the joy of the season with one of Hoboken’s traditions – the third annual performance of A Christmas Carol at DeBaun auditorium.
The Center for Performing Arts at DeBaun is presenting the John Mortimer (Royal Shakespeare Company) adaptation of this classic tale of redemption, which includes carols and English folk tunes.
In the spirit of giving, DeBaun will collect donations from the audience at all performances to provide support for The Hoboken Homeless Shelter. At last year’s Carol, they raised over $1,000 for the shelter. This year they hope to raise more.
David Zimmerman, executive director for the center, said that theatergoers can expect a brand new show with this year’s performance.
“It fabulous! I feel that this is artistically the strongest production in the three years,” said Zimmerman. “We’ve spent a lot of time trying to get the Dickens feel, and the language.”He said that is due in part to the talent of the director, Clara Barton Green, who is very passionate about the show. He added, “You could have seen the last two productions, but this will be a new and exciting production this year.”
A miserable miser
This classic tale, written by Charles Dickens, tells the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, a man rich in material items but poor of heart. Scrooge has lived a miserable life, giving to no one else since the death of his sister. One Christmas Eve, his nephew attempts to invite Scrooge to Christmas dinner, but he refuses. He grudgingly lets his assistant Mr. Cratchit take off for the holiday, but tells him he must come in early the next morning. When Scrooge arrives home that night, he is haunted by the ghost of his former partner Marley, who warns him to change his ways or suffer a terrible fate.
That same night, Scrooge is visited by three ghosts who show him scenes from his past, present and future – and the damage he has caused.
Yet all is not lost. When he sees the wreckage of his life, Scrooge begs for another chance. Scrooge wakes up Christmas morning, resolved to change his life.
The adaptation
DeBaun is using the adaptation by John Mortimer for the Royal Shakespeare Company. According to Green, this year’s production will have some spooky elements to it.
“I wanted to add a lot of dimension to the story,” said Green. “I’ve added a little bit of spookiness to it. As a little kid I always loved the ghost of Christmas Future.”
She added, “I think Dickens was trying to say that sometimes you can change only if something mysterious happened. Sometimes a miracle is necessary. He doesn’t put it in religious term he puts it in supernatural terms to make the story more accessible.”
She said that one of her tendencies as a director is to focus on the language, which is so well-depicted in the narrative by Dickens. While working with the cast, Green said that she broke it down into key elements that should be focused on, such as the language, and certain plot points like the story of redemption and to remember the poor. As for the set, Green said that there are so many locations in the story that she decided on a few key pieces and platforms to help tell the story.
According to Green, the music was a very important element in the show and she wanted to use music from that time period.
“There are about 15 pieces in the show,” said Green. “The action doesn’t stop. The music goes in and out. It is a really integral part of the production.”
Although many of the carols are traditional, some will be familiar such as “God Rest, Ye Merry Gentlemen,” and “Christmas Is Coming.”
“I asked a lot of them,” said Green about the cast. “It’s a marvelous cast. They were great.”
The cast and crew
Benjamin Holmes plays Scrooge. Holmes recently appeared in the Center’s well-recieved production of Urinetown, the musical as Senator Fipp. It also features Daphne Ciccarelle as the Tiny Tim.
The rest of the cast perform numerous parts in this ensemble piece and includes: Ruka Aderogba, Pia Ambardar, PJ Brennan, Cathy Carrey-Aquino, Michael Clay, Samantha Gutterman, James E. Keelen, Jr., Peyton Kennedy, Anthony Lorenzo Parker, Don Pflaster, Duncan Pflaster, Rolando Ramos, Francesca Ruiz, Emma Spahic, Sarah Vidal, Kate Willard, Yasmin Yarosh, and Zoe.
Meg Zervoulis, the music director, directs the specialty choir, consisting of Erin Flanagan, Ashley Johnson and Sarah Vidal, in a beautiful three-part harmony.
And…
A Christmas Carol opens at DeBaun, Fifth and Hudson streets in Hoboken, on Friday, Dec. 14 at 8 p.m. On Saturday, Dec. 15 the show will run at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 16 at 3 p.m. The performance on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. will include an open captioned performance that was made possible by The New Jersey Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in partnership with the New Jersey Theatre Alliance and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State.
Tickets are $20/adults, $15/students, $15/seniors, and $10 for children under twelve. Other discounts and packages are available including a dinner and show package.
For more information, call (201) 216-8937 or visit: www.debauntickets.org.
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