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A Christmas Carol –
a Dickens of a tale!
 Bah,
humbug! An innovative version of “A Christmas Carol,” the famous
tale about Christmas-scorning Scrooge, helped
launch the holiday season in Wimberley. The Wimberley Players
opened the
show at the new Wimberley Playhouse on November 24,
2006.
The adaptation, written by Doris Baizley,
was a
play within a play. A rag-tag theatre troupe, traveling around
to perform the popular yuletide show, suddenly found that
Scrooge and Tiny Tim had abandoned the tour. The prop boy
was enlisted to play the part of Tim
and the cynical stage manager was persuaded to play old miser Ebenezer Scrooge. The enlisted
players quickly became a part of the story and the show, as
always, “on.”
Magical effects
Many visual and sensory effects enlivened this production. Out of
the troupe’s huge trunk came clowns, musicians, and jugglers,
tumbling to the music in a theatrical fantasy choreographed by
Pamela Schultz. Actors, who played multiple
character roles, also played the part of various pieces of the
minimalist set, such as doorposts, furniture and the flames of a
non-existent stove.
The Wimberley Players production
was
directed by Judith Laird. Assistant Director
was
Charlotte Caldwell. Cast members
were
Allan Eastwood as Stage Manager and Scrooge;
Samuel Ellisor and Logan Giberson,
alternating performances 
as Prop Boy and Tiny Tim; Bill Phillips as
Director, Marley and Christmas Future; Larry Landaker
as Leading Man and Bob Cratchit; Denise Bjerke
as Leading Lady and Mrs. Cratchit; Gary Yowell
as Young Leading Man and Fred; Gina McClure as
Ingenue, Belle and Mrs. Fred; Priya Hudson as
Character Woman, Charitable Woman, Mrs. Fezziwig, Mother-in-law
and Parrot; Andy Quittner as Old Clown, School
Master, Mr. Fezziwig and Jake the Fence, Patrick Savage
as Clown 1, Ali Baba, Christmas Present 1 and Scavenger 1 & 4;
Kay Quittner as Clown 2, Christmas Present 2
and Scavenger 2; Nancy Weaver as Clown 3,
Little Caroler, Christmas Present 3 and Scavenger 3; and
Edwin Reck as Christmas Past.
 Live
music
A special feature of the show was live musical performance
integrated into the play. Cina Crisara, musical
director of the Starlight Symphony Orchestra,
conducted a
small ensemble on stage as part of each show. The orchestra
was
a cultural affiliate of the Wimberley Players, and this
was the
first appearance of musicians from the Starlight in a Players
production.
A Christmas Carol
ran from November 24 to December 10.
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