College of the Desert’s Performing Arts Center put on a non-traditional performance of Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Story.”
Directed by Janet Miller, “A Christmas Carol” was a short 45-minute play, yet left audience members in the seasonal mood and with a powerful message about life.
In this adaptation by Doris Baizley, a group of traveling players prepare to perform the timeless story, but when actors suddenly disappear, the show must go on.
The play begins with the vanishing of actors, to which the others must quickly adapt and find replacements. The grumpy stage manager and an eager prop boy take on the roles of Scrooge and Tiny Tim.
The show begins with Ebenezer Scrooge, the notable grump. Scrooge is a lonely, sad and tired old businessman who hates seeing others happy. He despises Christmas until he is visited by the three spirits of Christmas with a mission to change his heart.
Scrooge ventures on a journey of self-discovery and redemption as the audience follows along, revealing his harsh childhood and life. Slowly but surely, he transforms from a grumpy old man who hates Christmas to someone who learns to appreciate kindness and the spirit of the season. Scrooge returns on Christmas Day as a changed man, giving money to people and increasing his workers’ salaries.
Second-year theater major Ethan Matthew Avalos shared his experience playing Scrooge for the second time, noting he was able to build off his preexisting performance but still learned new lessons. “I had to get used to this new direction and ways of interpreting some scenes,” Avalos said. He had to learn to adapt to a new interpretation, production and director, saying it was surprisingly harder than expected despite his previous experience. Still, Avalos used the opportunity to grow as an actor.
“Life is too short to be a grouch. You should just enjoy life. Be happy. Make the most of it,” Avalos said of the play’s message.
Sebastian Reda, who plays Tiny Tim and Prop Boy, said Tiny Tim is happy and enjoying every moment he has, a sharp contrast to Scrooge. Reda said the most rewarding part of being in the production is the chance to tell a story while connecting with different people. Although he wasn’t familiar with this interpretation and production, Reda found the show was short but carried a powerful message: to be “more joyous and happier.”
Overall, “A Christmas Carol” was a short play that captured the spirit of the season and left attendees with an uplifting message about life and not becoming a Scrooge.
