Musical with messages
Fandango Productions gearing up to present ‘A Christmas Carol’ at Harbourfront Theatre
With a snarl on his face and a quick adjustment of his nightcap, Chris Smith quickly becomes Ebenezer Scrooge.
Smith will play the iconic curmudgeon in the Fandango Musical Productions Inc. staging of “A Christmas Carol: the Broadway Musical.”
“I’ve always liked playing darker characters. In the last show, I played Judas who was seen as a villain of the show.”
He is looking forward to playing someone cranky, but says it was difficult to find the way he wanted to play the part. “There are so many preconceived images of the character. Learning to find my age, he’s a senior I’m not, and finding a way to play him has been the most interesting part.” Shirley Anne Cameron, the artistic director of the musical, says the Broadway musical is based on the Charles Dickens novel “A Christmas Carol,” and after spending multiple seasons on Broadway, the play is sill floating around community theatres.
Cameron says her focus is to expose the community and school to a performance opportunity. “It’s a great opportunity for people who like the arts and want to expose themselves to quality productions.
“It will start with a seeded idea and then to the stage,” said Cameron.
Ten years ago, the theatre group put forward its first production, which happened to be “A Christmas Carol.”
“This time around, we certainly have more experience. It’s interesting to see the growth in the cast and in the people themselves. To see people grow in the arts and when it offers people, especially school kids, the chance to come together, it’s something special.”
Cameron’s favourite parts of the musical include the graveyard scene and Scrooge’s big singing performance.
“In that scene, Scrooge consciously realizes that he is the guy that’s dead. And then there’s these children singing to him. So it’s coming from the mouth of babes, telling you that you can transform yourself and get on a better path.
For Cameron the play depicts the importance of kindness and humanity. “It’s taught me that the only things that really matter in life are the things of the heart. Everything else is secondary.” Georgia Gunn performed in the first edition of the play in 2007 as Grace Smythe.
“In this production I play the Ghost of Christmas Past. I’m one of three ghosts intent on making Scrooge see the errors of his ways,” said Gunn.
“My ghost’s specific message is that he can learn from his past.”
Gunn says she often finds herself worrying about the future and dwelling on the past.
“I think that’s why I’ve connected with the character so much. I dwell on things instead of taking the experience and putting it to good use by learning from it. Yes people need to move forward, but I think we need to move forward with the past experiences as knowledge you’ve gained.”
Gunn, a Grade 12 student at Three Oaks Senior High, says the play has allowed her to take on a leadership role in the production. “As part of the Drama 621 curriculum, you have to take a leadership role in a project. This play lets me work on that.” Gunn says the play has also taught her to think of others. “You need to consider other people and the people directly in your life when it comes to the choices you make. They may come back to haunt you. They certainly haunt Scrooge.” Dave Lantz plays the Ghost of Christmas Present.
“I try to show him the joy and happiness that happens at Christmastime.” Lantz describes himself as happy and positive.
“I like to think I can bring out the best in people and that’s what my character tries to do.”
Lantz says a difficult part of playing the role is the various accents he’s had to master.
“All three ghosts appear to Scrooge on the streets of London before showing their true form later in the evening. I first appear as a ticket seller, and he has a thick cockney accent and then the ghost has much better diction. It’s been a learning experience.” He says the play’s message is “you can have happiness whether you are rich or poor, as long as you have the right feelings in your heart.”
“A Christmas Carol” will take the stage at Harbourfront Theatre on Nov. 24, 25, 30 and Dec. 1 and 2. Tickets are $28.