Paul and Dianne Twietmeyer have been longtime members of Carlyle Cornerstone Theatre and the Observer was able to interview them and discuss this year’s performance at the Dickens Village Festival.
A Christmas Carol was written in 1843 by Charles Dickens. It recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come.
After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man.
The Twietmeyers have been a part of Cornerstone Theatre since 1985. Along with several local residents, including Doug Waldner, Marion Biram, Michele Amy, Don Carter, Fred Perry, Shannon Klatt, Lane Easton and a host of others, this talented group has brought spins on A Christmas Carol to the Dickens Festival since 2003.
With no performance 小蓝视频 held in 2020, the group felt it was important to bring it back in 2021, even if a Dickens weekend wouldn’t have taken place. Work on this year’s performance commenced in early November.
Said Dianne, “Mick O’Brien had previous experience with musicals and choirs, and was our first director of the play in 2003. David Slykhuis was the original Scrooge and has played the part on many occasions. This was Monte McNaughton’s second year of playing the lead role.”
This year, Scrooge was the greedy owner of an intergalactic shipping company. His life is dedicated to delivering goods around the galaxy and making himself rich.
Added Paul, “We have altered the script many times and have had “A Christmas Carol” played in various themes. A western, on a steam sail ship, in the streets of New York City, in the 1950s, and this year’s Star Trek theme. We try and vary the story each and every year. In fact, back 2009 we have even had a Muppets theme with a three-dimensional set.”
Various members of Cornerstone have written the play over the years and the 2021 edition was the debut for Carlyle local Megan McAuley. Previous play writers include Jesse, Dianne, and Sam Twietmeyer, MacKenize Easton and Carter. Waldner is a prolific writer of past Christmas Carols and is in charge of the 2022 performance.
Said Paul, “Cornerstone has a strong and cohesive group of talented actors, actresses, musicians, and stage hands. We are extremely fortunate to have live, local musicians performing each and every year.”
In our interview with the Twietmeyers regarding the annual A Christmas Carol performance, we learned a lot and here are some incredibly interesting nuggets gleaned from our discussions.
- All actors, actresses, musicians, directors and writers are not remunerated;
- Cornerstone Theatre faithfully pays the Carlyle Memorial Hall monthly rent in the amount of $500 to defray the costs of light and power;
- Together with the dress rehearsal, this year’s three-day performance was attended by nearly 400 people, just slightly below normal;
- There were 17 songs presented or sung in this year’s edition. Some of the performers had five costume changes;
- At the back of the stage, the Star Trek door was fully operational with the sound effects capably handled by Doug Waldner and his own computer;
- Drummer Jason Junk was added two weeks before the Dickens weekend, bass player Todd Greenwood only six days before the curtain was raised;
- Construction of this year’s stage and set began the Remembrance Day weekend;
- Jesse Twietmeyer used the Carlyle Memorial Hall digital movie projector to emit the light effects;
- Soundman Will Elliott had the very important job of handling 20 separate microphones and used his own digital controls at his own expense.
In closing, the Twietmeyers were extremely satisfied with this year’s performance and are already looking ahead to 2022. From this year’s proceeds, $1,000 will be donated to the Carlyle & District Foodbank.
Together they concluded, “We hope the audience enjoyed this year’s play as much as we did. See you next year.”
For more photos, see page 7.
