Christmas Caroling at Open Stage • December 7, 2000

Christmas Caroling at Open Stage
by Brian Phillips

With the holiday season well under way, Open Stage of Harrisburg has joined the holiday festivities with a carol of its own. "A Christmas Carol" that is. Edward Alsedek’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic "A Christmas Carol," opened Friday December 1 and runs through the end of the month, with evening and matinee performances to accommodate even the most miserly schedule.

Alsedek’s faithful adaptation is given life by Donald Alsedek, the Artistic Director of Open Stage. His sometimes quirky, but most times creative, hand is present in every step of this production from "Hum Bug" to "God Bless Us Every One."

For those of you looking for a traditional Scrooge with a real Victorian feel, you will find it here. Beginning with Gwen Alsadek’s colorful and festive costuming, highlighted by a wonderful array of ghostwear (the Ghost of Christmas Present is something right out of Alistair Sims’ glorious film). Plus there is plenty of 18^th Century vernacular (yes, there’s even made mention of coal-scuttles, pudding, smoking bishop, and dead door nails). And what would a Dickens Christmas be without a wee bit of traditional English dance — choreographed by Jerry Laughery and Ginny Bartholomew, the scene from Scrooge’s past where he asks Belle for her hand in marriage is right out of a 18^th Century picture book.

In addition to the traditional, the production also includes some interesting and very modern twists. Open Stage’s artistic director does something that will certainly surprise you. But none of the theatrical choices are out of step with the supernatural air or simplistic styling of the story. Alsedek incorporates some interesting visual imagery, including some very unusual and contemporary puppetry, designed and engineered by Rob Gardener. To see the interlude between Marley’s Departure and the arrival of The Ghost of Christmas Past is alone worth your price of admission.

Add to that a group of familiar Open Stage faces, including Nicholas Hughes as the penny-pinching Ebenezer Scrooge and a handful of newcomers, including Robin Dorff as the late but always loveable Bob Cratchit, and you have a telling of Scrooge that shouldn’t be missed.

The message of the story is familiar, but it is one that should be revisited each and every year. And that is why it is so common to see so many tellings of this holiday tale. This is a very well intentioned and beautiful production that you should see, if only for your kids. They will be entranced, and so will you. So, when you are deciding which version of the holiday classic to see, keep Open Stage in mind. You can rent Alastair Sims or Bill Murray anytime. But Open Stage’s production of "A Christmas Carol" only runs through the end of December.