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December 8, 2001
Section: CNY
Edition: Final
Page: C5

If you emit a big yawn whenever you hear the title "A Christmas Carol," think again. With its current version of this 
classic, Appleseed Productions proves successful at doing true interactive theater. 

This "Christmas Carol" is different in that each night, a number of people are pulled from the audience to take part in 
the performance, including the pivotal role of Bob Crachit. If you might be averse to that prospect, don't worry.

Each table in the basement theater space of Atonement Lutheran Church has a placard, with helpful answers to such 
questions as "Do I have to memorize any line?" or "Do I have to use an accent?"

Even the three excellent narrators (Doug Rougeux, JoAnne Simiele and Sarah Davies) offer a disclaimer: "We know 
that dragging you up onstage would be about as welcome as having a bowl of hot porridge dumped down your trousers."

The play, adapted from Dickens by Fullerton, Calif., theater professor Jeff Wirth, mines all of the creative possibilities 
offered by the interactive approach, often to drolly amusing results.

For example, Thursday night's Crachit was played by a young teen, Brian Manos. When a narrator prompted, "Crachit 
asked Scrooge for the following day off," Manos parroted, to the audience's amusement, "Can I have the following day 
off?"

Other audience members are called upon to be party guests at Scrooge's nephew's house and denizens of London's 
streets, among other small parts. One enterprising girl, Abigail Izzo, volunteered for two cameos - one a male role, to 
boot.

The play, directed by Greg J. Hipius, does not lose sight, however, of the core message of "A Christmas Carol" - that 
of the personal redemption of a man when visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.

Greg Holtham does fine work as Ebenezer Scrooge, particularly in the scene where he lets loose and regains the gift 
of laughter after many years as a miser. Lois Haas is loving as Crachit's wife; Mark Allen Holt makes a good nephew, 
Fred; and Nick Dardaris is appropriately endearing as the afflicted Tiny Tim.

Special mention must be made of the Kabuki theater-style puppetry of the three visiting ghosts. The visage of the first 
looks eerily like the face on the Shroud of Turin, while the second ghost is introduced using an incredibly novel method, 
whose puppets, designed by C.J. Young, are best left as a surprise.

The play does start to drag a bit in the second act, in part because it is so well-known and generally overdone by local 
theater groups and television holiday specials.

What might make it most entertaining would be if you knew some of the people called upon to be thespians for a night. 
A fun idea would be to attend with a group of people and dare each other to go up onstage.

The musical direction, by Beth Suzanne Ferrara (who also doubles as choreographer), offers some lovely Christmas 
carols that aren't heard too often, such as "Child in the Snow" and "On Christmas Morn'."

For that matter, the whole approach to the old holiday favorite isn't done too much either, making it a refreshing change 
of pace.

The details

What: "A Christmas Carol," presented by Appleseed Productions.
When: 8 p.m. today, 2 p.m. Sunday. Plays through Dec. 15.
Where: Atonement Lutheran Church, 116 W. Glen Ave., Syracuse.
Performance time: 1 hour, 40 minutes.
Tickets: $8 to $10.
For more information: 492-9766.
Family guide: Suitable for all ages.

Copyright (c) 2001 The Herald Company

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