Can "A Christmas Carol," Charles Dickens' classic story of redemption featuring Scrooge and the three Christmas spirits, Tiny Tim, and all the rest, possibly be told in 45 minutes?
Yes, it can, says Jared Kinney, who is directing the Christopher Schario adaptation of the Dickens' tale, which opens Wednesday at Fire Hall Theatre in downtown Grand Forks.
"He wanted to put on 'A Christmas Carol' in a theater, but he didn't want to go through Act One, Two and Three," Kinney said of Schario's adaptation, which begins with a young boy (played by Oliver Wolfe) who discovers the Dickens' book in his backpack.
As he begins reading, the scenes in the story are played out around him, and he is invited by the other characters to enter the play, according to a description of the play.
"Focusing on Dickens' powerful language, humor and warmth, this charming version of 'A Christmas Carol' simply and directly tells the story of the redemption of a human soul," says a description of the play at Stageplays.com.
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"A Christmas Carol" will be at Fire Hall at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Dec. 10, 2 p.m. Dec. 11 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14-17.
The story is familiar: Scrooge (played by Frank Sikich), a crabby miser, through the help of spirits and visions from his past, present and future, finds a second chance to become a loving, generous human being.
Each of the cast members has multiple roles, which is one of the challenges of the production, Kinney said. In addition to Wolfe and Sikich, the cast features Lana Demars, Amy Driscoll, Sarah Konschak, Casey Pearson, Patrick Pearson, Linnea Taylor and Emily Wirkus. Jenna Muiderman is the play's violinist.
The production may be 45 minutes in length, but audiences shouldn't worry they'll be shortchanged by the story, Kinney said.
"They don't skip over anything," he said. "It just keeps flowing. It's really nonstop."
Tickets are $15, $12 for senior citizens, students and active military, and $10 each for groups of 12 or more. Call (701) 777-4090 for reservations.
Reach Tobin at (701) 780-1134; (800) 477-6572, ext. 134; or send e-mail to ptobin@gfherald.com .
