Christmas Carol characters come alive at Rosebud Theatre
By Laureen F. Guenther Times Contributor
The age-old characters of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol have come alive at Rosebud Theatre this Christmas season. Nathan Schmidt is the Storyteller in the one-man show, re-enacting all the original characters while he tells their story. Morris Ertman, Rosebud Theatre’s artistic director, is directing the show.
Rosebud Theatre opened this production of A Christmas Carol last November, however changing COVID-19 restrictions closed the production down two weeks after opening. The theatre has brought the story back this season with renewed hopes for a full-length run.
Charles Dickens’ classic story is familiar, Ebenezer Scrooge is a greedy businessman in Victorian London, clinging to every penny he earns, yet he’s lost so much and gained nothing. He cares little for his own comforts and cares even less for the comforts of others.
But on this fateful Christmas Eve, three Ghosts come to visit, illustrating what Scrooge’s life was, what his life is and what his legacy will become. When Scrooge wakes on Christmas morning, he’s thrilled to discover he still has time to change his life and his future and is eager to begin that very moment.
At Schmidt’s performance last year, he skilfully he wove the characters’ diverse voices into his storytelling. He cleverly wove in the pieces of the set – especially the floor-to-ceiling curtains that were painted with Victorian street scenes – as additional performers on stage.
In Schmidt’s 2021 performance, he’s gone beyond merely telling these characters’ stories. He’s brought them right onto the stage, leaving Scrooge’s friends and foes such as Mr. and Mrs. Fezzywig, Bob Cratchitt, Tiny Tim, the boy who buys the turkey, even the nameless children on the curtains, alive long after the play ends.
And this year, after we’ve lived in a pandemic for over 20 months, Scrooge’s ancient story seems more up-to-date than ever. After experiencing what we never thought we’d experience and learning what we still can’t believe we had to learn, we’re a little like Scrooge on Christmas morning, eager to carve a new path for the future.
A Christmas Carol runs from Nov. 12 to Dec. 23 in the Rosebud Opera House. Tickets may be purchased with or without a meal.
ChristmasTide:
Music and Stories of the coming light is another live performance offered in Rosebud this fall. Rosebud School of the Arts students, directed by David Snider with musical direction by Aaron Krogman, will perform the show from Thursdays to Sundays, Nov. 26 to Dec. 18, at 5 p.m. on the Rosebud Studio Stage.
For all public Rosebud events, staff and guests follow the AHS Restrictions Exemption Program, showing proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test. Guests and staff also wear masks inside all public Rosebud buildings, except when seated for a meal.
Tickets for A Christmas Carol and ChristmasTide may be purchased at the Rosebud Theatre Box Office by calling 1-800-267-7553. Find more information at rosebudtheatre.com and rosebudschoolofthearts.com.