Carlee WrightGet a fresh look at a timeless tale with Theatre 33’s winter show
Back by popular demand, Theatre 33 is reprising A Christmas Carol: A 1940’s Radio Show, by Thomas Nabhan, adapted from the Dickens short story.
It’s a snowy Christmas Eve in 1941 Salem. The actors at KSL Radio are to perform Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” but seasonal weather leads to the foley gal – who has never done the show before – arriving late, which sets off a series of comic mishaps.
In this production, Theatre 33 stays true to its mission to develop new plays with Oregon/Northwest playwrights. Tom has reshaped Dickens’ classic story to create this original adaptation by setting the show apart from its source material with ’40s flare, snappy dialogue, period props and comedy.
If you saw a performance in the past, don’t let that stop you. “We are adding some new gags and a couple of new wrinkles,” Tom said.
Past performance of Theatre 33’s A Christmas Carol: A 1940’s Radio Show. Photo courtesy of Theatre 33.
The four-person cast features three returning players: Ryan Carty performs the male voices, Annie Rimmer-Weeks as the foley sound person and Tom is Scrooge.
“Annie…is a comedian and hilarious in the role,” Tom said. “In fact, I said if she can’t do it, we may not bring it back.”
New to this year’s cast, Erica Towe plays the narrator and contributes the female voices.
Capitol Auto employee, Arthur Lyter, will make his stage debut in a walk-on role. Arthur won the part in Capitol Auto’s annual United Way fundraiser.
“I wrote in a four-line part for him at the beginning of the play. Capitol Auto is a season sponsor of Theatre 33, so we are going to have some physical and text gags related to his part and Capitol Auto.”
Like the traditional tale, this show is an assured holiday classic. A Christmas Carol: A 1940’s Radio Show is a story of hope and redemption, not just for Dickens’ characters, but for the radio actors as well.
A Christmas Carol: A 1940’s Radio Show
When: 7 p.m. Dec. 8-10, 14-16 and 2 p.m. Dec. 11
Where: M. Lee Pelton Playhouse at Willamette University, 900 State St
Cost: $18 adult; $15 senior/student. Click here for tickets.
Info: http://theatre33.org
The Instigator
