The Roxy Regional Theatre is currently staging their musical adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol.” The play was adapted for the stage by John McDonald, and directed by Tom Thayer. The production opened to a packed audience on Friday night.
The show features Ryan Bowie, Travis Kendrick, Lisa MacAfee, Jackie Ostick, Collin Smith, Kendall Anne Thompson, and Nate Washburn, along with a rotating cast of thirty-four local youth portraying the Cratchit family children.
Standouts include the Fezziwig’s (Travis Kendrick and Jackie Ostick), Scrooges Nephew Fred (Nate Washburn), and Jacob Marley (Ryan Bowie), and Bob Cratchit (Collin Smith). We also can’t forget Ebenezer Scrooge, it’s the role that I think John McDonald was born to play.
A great touch was the blending of traditional Christmas songs and Victorian dances into the production. The actors presented a number of holiday standards including “God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen,” “The Wassail Song,” “Silent Night,” “What Child Is This” and many more. Your heart will melt when Tiny Tim sings Silent Night. The actors also sang in the lobby before the show began.
The costuming was wonderful, especially that of Mr and Mrs. Fezziwig.
The set was well designed, at times giving the feeling and ambiance of a counting house, Victorian London, Scrooge’s bedroom, Fezziwig’s Shop, the Cratchit House, and his nephew’s home, and a graveyard. I loved the way the Ghost of Christmas Future was presented.
Watching a Christmas Carol at the Roxy Regional Theatre serves to remind you that family is what is really important this holiday season, so don’t take them for granted.
All in all this was a fun show to watch, and with the rotating cast of children, you can see it multiple times and never know what to expect. I expect many of these shows to sell out, especially when you consider that parents, siblings, friends, and family of the young cast members coming to see the shows, so get your tickets early!
A Christmas Carol runs November 26th through December 18th, playing Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:00pm and Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm, with 2:00pm matinées on Saturday, December 11th, and Saturday, December 18th. There are no performances on Wednesday, December 1st, and Thursday, December 2nd.
Tickets are $20.00 (adults) and $15.00 (ages 13 and under) and may be purchased online at www.roxyregionaltheatre.org, by phone at 931-645-7699, or at the theatre during regular box office hours (9:00am-2:00pm, weekdays).
Preview
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xum-D1hTD5Y[/youtube]
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