A Seussified Christmas Carol - Muth Community Players

 

A Seussified Christmas Carol - Muth Community Players

By: Laura Anne Miller

What happens when you mix a beloved classic Christmas tale with the stylings of Dr. Seuss? A Seussified Christmas Carol!

While much of the story remains the same, A Christmas Carol is given a Seussical flair and is shortened, as Narrator 1 (Lauren Visuri) and Narrator 2 (Beth Emmons) are quick to point out. 

The Scrooge (James Lloyd) - not Scrooge, THE Scrooge - is a curmudgeon of an old man who overworks and underpays his one employee, Bob Cratchit (John Dunning). He is stingy and mean and even turns down an invitation from Bed-Head Fred (Ashton Edie), and refuses to donate to the Solicitors (NIckolas Perretti, Jay Waliczek). What a guy, that “The Scrooge”.

Meanwhile, the Cratchit Family is poor, but happy. The children (Ada Emmons, Azalea Krummen, Sophia Lloyd, Everly Moore, Victoria Sebert, and Sylvie Wilson) must all get jobs to help make ends meet. Little Timmy Loo Hoo (Peter Howell) is “just a surgeon”, and is unable to walk without his crutch. Mrs. Cratchit (Kristin Cantu) disparages The Scrooge for having so much while paying her husband so little. 

True to the Dickens’ tale (because there is not one bit of Seuss in this story, Narrators 1 and 2 will tell you), The Scrooge is visited by four ghosts, the first being his old partner, Jake Marley (Shane Emmons) and followed by:  The Ghost of Christmas Past (Megan Hansen), The Ghost of Christmas Present (Lilly Burris), and the Ghost of Christmas Future Sven (Wesson Rowland). 

The Scrooge was once a rockstar, managed by Old Fezziwig (Evan Day). Young Scrooge (Derek Osburn) was part of a band and that is where he met his love, Belle (Brenna Teschendorf). Unfortunately, The Scrooge becomes married to his work and Belle marries a man named Ned (Joseph Laframoise) and they have 20 children, all named Ned. 

The Ghost of Christmas Present, who is dressed like… a gift!, shows The Scrooge the party that his nephew, Bed-Head Fred, and his wife (Meg Lince) are throwing. 

Next enters Sven, the Ghost of Christmas Future. Sven shows The Scrooge what is coming up for him, including the death of little Timmy Loo Hoo. 

Changed from his night of adventures, The Scrooge wakes up, his heart growing three sizes that night, and becomes more generous toward his fellow man, particularly the Cratchit family and all is well.

Director Emma Schmidt and Assistant Director did a great job, despite having such a large cast, including so many children. The play was very seamless with no gaps or “dead air”. There were some actors who maybe said lines a little too quickly, and with the whole play rhyming, made understanding what they were saying a bit tricky. Sometimes actors without microphones were a bit too quiet.

Set Designer Dark Hoffman had a fairly simple set design. Smaller set pieces were wheeled in and out to indicate where the scene was taking place. The simple set made it so the actor’s talents could shine without being distracted by complicated set pieces. What was on stage was beautifully done. 

Stand out performances were from The Scrooge himself. The whole show was riding on one person that had to play curmudgeon and likeable all in one play. James Lloyd truly pulled it off. Kristin Cantu did an amazing job playing the feisty matriarch of the Cratchit family. Shane Emmons did a wonderful job as Jake Marley and John Dunning did spectacular as Bob Cratchit. 

Overall, this was a cute twist on the classic story of A Christmas Carol. The rhyming helped keep the pace of the story moving and it was not as cheesy as one might think. The lessons learned in the original story definitely carry over into this more modernized one. However, this version probably would be best suited for younger viewers, as it would hold their interest more so than the refined audience expecting Dickens’ classic. 

It was definitely worth a see. The run time was about an hour, perfect for younger viewers. Unfortunately, the show only ran for two dates, November 29-30. If the opportunity arises to see it elsewhere, definitely take it. 

Muth Community Players and their upcoming productions can be found at: https://fmuthschools.com/bronner-performing-arts-center/ or on their Facebook page.