By Megan Lambert (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: November 26, 2014
If you’ve caught the humbug, UFV’s production of A Christmas Carol is looking to provide a cure for it with a dose of holiday cheer.
So much cheer, in fact, that the actors are stretching their smiles and doubling over in laughter to keep the winter whimsy fresh for the audience. Director Paul Gélineau notes that although this particular version of the story is bright and playful, he admits his original vision was more cryptic and enigmatic than it is presently.
“That balance is done with finding moments with the actors that allow the funny to become poignant. That’s just timing and good acting,” he says.
The A Christmas Carol set is a sizable multi-tiered house; some platforms are slanted to add a Seussian feel to the play’s quirky and fanciful atmosphere. Although the set is mostly fixed, actors move three portable lamp posts to set different scenes, and a door in the centre of the set changes position.
The costumes, undergoing final touches in time for “tech week,” are from a cooler colour palette, so the audience can expect lots of blues and greys.
But with no lights, props, costumes, or sound cues at this stage of the rehearsal process, the actors work on their line delivery, physical blocking, and the timing of their responses to each others’ gestures — while in their bathrobes and pyjamas.
Gélineau says that actors in professional theatre companies often look at the set and props at the beginning of rehearsals, which helps them adapt to the director’s take. “You start looking at the play through those coloured lenses,” he notes.
“I was seeing it a little bit darker than it is in terms of where Scrooge is, and in the process he becomes more likeable quicker than I thought.”
Gabriel Kirkley plays Ebenezer Scrooge — a feisty businessman who undergoes a change of heart through a series of reflections by ghostly visitors of Christmas past, present, and future. Gélineau notes that Scrooge’s appeal with the audience is congruent with Kirkley’s approach to the role.
“It keeps it in the realm of what the theatre wants to do with it,” he continues. “It’s fun, you can bring your family to it, you’ll have a great time, and you’ll laugh, and it’s not threatening in any way.”
The original adaptation for the massive Royal Shakespeare Company has the actors narrating the story as part of a chorus. However, given the size of UFV’s theatre department, Gélineau had to slightly manoeuvre the structure of the script. Three narrators, played by Eli Funk, Aaron Froc, and Dayna Tea, float in and between scenes, telling the story and watching as members of the ghost world.
In addition to casting UFV students, A Christmas Carol includes young children and adult community members. “This particular group is especially good at being a solid ensemble,” Gélineau notes, despite the age gaps.
“There seems to be a fairly good respect for everybody’s sort of experience and background — the stage management team is being especially good with managing the kids.”
The play will run December 10 to 21. Tickets are available online.
