(Posted Nov. 16, 2016)
Ebenezer Scrooge will face the ghosts of Christmas in Rosedale Bible College’s (RBC) stage production of Charles Dickens’ novella, “A Christmas Carol,” Dec. 2-4.
Director Christa Wolf chose Romulus Linney’s adaptation of the story because she wanted something that followed the original book while capturing “the heart of the text.” That text centers on the notorious miser Scrooge who can’t bring himself to give money to the poor even on Christmas Eve.
During the night, he encounters a series of spirits, beginning with the ghost of his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley, and ending with the terrifying Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
The play, says assistant director Sarah Landis, will appeal to all ages, although parents should use discretion. Some of the ghostly effects will appeal to older children but might be a little frightening for those younger than 5 years old.
Wolf, who teaches drama at RBC, has directed 26 full-length productions. She also designed the set for this year’s play. “Rather than using a skeletal set to accommodate the various locations in the play, we will be using a large carousel to transform the main stage several times during the show,” she says.
Wolf double-cast many of the actors to cover all the characters. “It’s interesting to see how costumes, make-up, voice work, mannerisms, and a few other theatrical tricks work together to make each character distinct.”
The cast is made up of RBC students and children from the community.
“Rosedale has not put on a Christmas production for quite some time,” says Landis, “so we are excited to be putting this on for our community.”
Performances are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone, or at the door, if still available. Visit rosedale.edu or call (740) 857-1311, ext. 119, for more information.
Rosedale Bible College is an evangelical Mennonite two-year college in Irwin.
