The Cornerstone Theatre delivered another outstanding performance to a packed house. The play, which ran Friday and Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, was a quirky take on Charles Dickens' classic, 'A Christmas Carol'.
Featuring live musical performances and introducing vampires, dogs, Bob Marley, and other crazy characters to the Dickens' twist, the Cornerstone Theatre dubbed their unique play, "A Christmas Carol - Remixed."
The play starts as three high-school students, played by Emily Klatt, Mackenzie Easton, and Kieran McArthur, meet to complete an English assignment in which they must re-write Dickens' Christmas Carol in a modernized way. Their ideas are brought to life on stage, as the students write, and rewrite the play.
After the idea of Ebenezer Scrooge, played by Jesse Twietmeyer, as a vampire didn't go over so well, the group agreed to portray Scrooge as a scummy Landlord in Harlem, a neighbourhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan. Following the classic structure of the character, Scrooge is a cold-hearted and greedy man with no relationships, and the play is set right around Christmas time. As a landlord in the student's version, he's evicting people from their homes that can't afford the unfairly high rent, amongst other tight-fisted deeds.
For the character of Cratchitt, Scrooge's underpaid clerk, the students at first try to feminize the play a bit by bringing a woman into the role. However, the femme fatale version, played by Kristy Wempe, is quickly abandoned, and the students agree to have Cratchitt as a kind old man instead, who is played by David Slykhuis.
Cratchitt, who has a wife and children, is hoping to get a raise from Scrooge, so that his family can afford an operation, which would save his youngest daughter's life. The students recreate Tiny Tim as Tiny Tina, who is severely ill. However, Scrooge, true to form, angrily refuses to give Cratchitt any more money.
While at home, Scrooge is visited by Bob Marley, who looks a lot like his old business partner who passed on seven years ago, Jacob Marley. Marley warns Scrooge that there will be consequences for his ways, and he must change his character unless he wishes to suffer in the afterlife. Marley then tells Scrooge he will be visited by three more ghosts.
Scrooge then continues to be visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, played by Taro McArthur, Dianne Twietmeyer, and Lane Easton. The ghosts may resemble that of a boxing champion, Judge Judy, and the Grim Reaper, but in classic style, they all attempt to help Scrooge realize the error of his ways and see the light.
Scrooge is shown his childhood from the past as well as his failed relationship with his past girlfriend, Mary, the problems the Cratchitt's face in the present, and the dire consequences of the future. Scrooge witnesses the funeral of Tiny Tina, as well as the funeral of someone else, which no one seems to care about. Scrooge is intrigued by the man who has been buried that has no friends or family and no one to mourn his death, and is shocked upon discovering it his is very own grave.
After seeing the light, Scrooge is spurred into action to change his ways, and make amends for the wrongs he has done. He reduces rent, allows the Church to remain, and pays for Tiny Tina's surgery, all on Christmas day. Mary takes Scrooge back, and the play ends with a big musical number.
With lots of fun music numbers, superb acting, and entertaining writing, the play was once again an outstanding success. The audience laughed and cheered as the cast members delivered a captivating performance.
The Cast
Emily Klatt, Mackenzie Easton, Kieran McArthur - teenage writing group; Kristy Wempe - femme fatale; David Slykhuis - Cratchitt; Taro McArthur - community member, ghost of Christmas past; Naomi Twietmeyer - community member, Mary, caroller; Lane Easton - community member, ghost of Christmas past, caroller; Megan McAuley - chick, member of the Cratchitt family; Craig Saville - various reverends, Marley the dog; Sharlyse McArthur - young Scrooge, member of the Cratchitt family; Natalia McArthur - scamp, Dianne Twietmeyer - ghost of Christmas presiding; Marion Biram - caroller; John Bullas - Marley, caroller; Colleen Easton, Ally Landrie, Margaret Bell, Sophia Clark - members of the Cratchitt family.
The Band and Crew
Doug Waldner - director, set and stage design; Will Elliott - tech/lights/sound; Paul Twietmeyer, Michele Amy, Claude Poirier, Liam Easton, Terry Fraser - musicians; Marion Biram - set and stage design.
