Posted: 11/20/03

Charles Dickens' classic Christmas story "A Christmas Carol" opens at Lyric Arts Main Street Stage Theater

Text and photos by Jennifer Kivioja

Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and the spirit of Christmas past, present and future are just a few characters that come to life in Lyric Arts Main Street Stage Theater production of Charles Dickens' classic Christmas story "A Christmas Carol."

On Christmas Eve 1843, friends and family gather at Dickens' home to celebrate Christmas. They beg him to tell a story, but he refuses to work on Christmas Eve.

Instead, he puts his guests to work, saying that if there is going to be a story, each must take a part in its telling.

And so the traditional story, with a twist, unfolds on stage with the cast of 10 playing 53 different characters.

Each of the 10 actors/actresses are portraying guests at Dickens' Christmas party. Once he starts to tell the story, he becomes Scrooge and his guests become the characters in his story.

"It's a Dickens' classic. I think the best thing about the show is that it's all happening on stage. It's a play within a play," said Greg S. Arnold, director of the show.

"The audience will see the actors transition on stage into the characters they will portray."

The entire play takes place on one set, Dickens' house. And, all the characters change on stage into the characters that they turn into during the story.

Show times and dates:

Charles Dickens' favorite Christmas story "A Christmas Carol," is the Lyric Arts production during the holiday season.

Performances are Nov. 21-Dec. 21. Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.; Wednesdays, Dec. 10 and 17 at 7 p.m.; and Saturdays, Nov. 29, Dec. 6, 13 and 20 at 2 p.m. and Sundays, Dec. 7 and 14 at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $11 for adults; $9 for students For more information call (763) 422-1838.

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