Event
A Christmas Carol
The magical spirit of the Christmas season comes alive December 20-21 in Opera House Arts at the Stonington Opera Houses (OHA) community production of Charles Dickens classic holiday tale, A Christmas Carol. This unique readers theater adaptation by Lewistons Christopher Shario is directed by Sedgwick actor and cabinetmaker Bob Burke; and will feature live French button accordion music by Gary Chapin. The local cast includes Deer Isle-Stonington middle school student Esther Adams; Joaz Hill; Judith Jerome; Amanda Larrabee; Cherie Mason; with Burke as Scrooge.
Finding ourselves in difficult financial times makes Dickens tale of the true spirit of Christmas even more moving, said Judith Jerome, OHAs Artistic Director. The magic of live theater is often in bringing people together to celebrate family and community.
Six actors share narration and play multiple characters in this readers theater adaptation of the well known play. It begins with a child (Esther Adams) reading a copy of Dickens novel. As she reads, the five other actors and the accordion player enter and coax the child into joining the story as the beloved character, Tiny Tim. Its a marvelous metaphor for the way literature grabs and transforms us, as well as an original way of illuminating this inspiring tale of human redemption, says author Christopher Schario, the Artistic Director of the Public Theatre in Lewiston.
Director Bob Burke, who also stars as Scrooge, was born and raised in Portland and operates a cabinet/finish carpentry shop in Sedgwick. He has been involved in a number of Opera House Arts community playreadings, most recently as Jack in Nancy Hodermarskys The Kid in the Backseat. Mr. Burke directed readings of A Christmas Carol for The Catholic Center at New York University. Among his many acting credits are Hamlet in HAMLET, Troilus in TROILUS & CRESSIDA, and Billy Bishop in BILLY BISHOP GOES TO WAR. He has been a narrator for PBS's American Masters: Robert Capa: In Love & War; Discovery Channel's Christmas in America; and recently for Frontline's The Hugo Chavez Story.
French button accordion player Gary Chapin is a social studies teacher and chair of the District Curriculum Leadership Team at Hall-Dale High School in Farmingdale, ME. He most recently appeared in The Winters Tale at the Teater at Monmouth. He plays traditional French music on button accordion and flute. He was taught by Sylvain Piron, an accordionist in Alsace, France. Gary says he finds the French accordion repertoire to be among the most joyful in the world. "Even the sad songs," he says, "are completely honest. There is no irony or world-weariness or cynicism there." Gary can be seen and heard at his You Tube site, http://www.youtube.com/accordeonaire.
A Christmas Carol is at the Stonington Opera House Saturday, December 20 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, December 21 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for those under 17 years of age. Advance reservations can be made by calling 207-367-2788, and tickets can be purchased at the door or online at www.operahousearts.org.
|
|
 |
LocationStonington Opera House
1 School St.
Stonington, ME 04681
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: No |
| Wheelchair Accessible: No |
|
Contact
|
