The ghost of Christmas zoom
Eighteen actors, adult and children, grace the Zoom screen in LCTC’S production of ‘A Christmas Carol’
LAKE COUNTY >> Lake County Theater Company (LCTC), a non-profit organization that seeks to involve the community in the art of theater, will produce a virtual Zoom production of ‘A Christmas Carol’ for performances on December 18, 19, 20, and 24.
The famous ‘A Christmas Carol’ story by Charles Dickens, published in 1843 as a novella, has over the years morphed into play format, movie, musical and now virtual format. The story of a crotchety, mean- spirited Victorian businessman, Ebenezer Scrooge, who hates Christmas and is unkind to his employees, then refuses to give to charity and is rude to his nephew when he invites him to spend Christmas with him. The ghosts of Christmas past, present and future visit Scrooge and transform his life.
Marie Schrader, the IT director and video editor of the play, said, “We are trying to change with the times, being difficult times. LCTC is really trying our best to provide quality theater in a new form for both actors and the public.”
Eighteen actors, adult and children, grace the Zoom screen. Alan Fletcher, in his bearded glory plays Charles Dickens, James Paton plays Scrooge, C. Richard Smith is Bob Cratchit, along with Benjamin Miranda, Zoey Wing, Amirah Jassar, Kaitrine Brasier, Edward Borg, Peggy Barthel, Jimmy Reynolds, Nick Hogan, Sam Miller, Ashley Ann Pearce, Zoe Richardson, Rachel Lenard, Cindy Sobel, Annabella SchootBurress, Natalie Farrell and Robert Boccabella
Schrader explained, “Everyone has a green screen with a picture on it that makes it look like the characters are in their living room or other locations. The characters interrelate to each other, even appear to pass things to each other. Our challenge was finding backgrounds that fit into the time periods as Ebenezer Scrooge travels to the past, the present and the future to learn the error of his ways.”
Larry R icha rdson, Charise Reynolds, and Michele Chapman are co- directors and co-producers for the production. “It’s good to have that many directors, so that they get the experience of directing using this medium,” said Schrader.
Reynolds agreed. “We’re going to be using this virtual medium for awhile, so it’s good to have this knowledge and experience.”
“As directors and producers,” Reynolds said, “we’ve attended all rehearsals, took notes, helped the actors with any Zoom difficulties, watched the cobbledtogether show numerous times, solicited sponsors. We’re also making a pre show that will have interviews with the actors, their bios, interviews with directors, and the all-important advertisements.”
“The most difficult part of this production is that it’s a new medium for us. There are certain things we didn’t know, until we experienced it. In this county, the internet doesn’t always work properly, so there are times when the actors were perfect, but not the internet. Sometimes we had to chose the recording that was technically perfect over the one that we liked artistically.” Reynolds emphasized, “That doesn’t mean to say, you’re not going to see a great show.”
“The best part,” Reynolds said, “is that it’s always fun to learn a new medium and how to be creative in the midst of COVID.”
Reynolds’ son Jimmy, 11, plays Tiny Tim and the young Scrooge. “I did this same play in 2018, but not virtually. It was LCTC’S children’s version, performed at the fairgrounds.” Sounding wise beyond his years, young Reynolds said, “With virtual scenes you can redo until you get it perfect.” As an example, Reynolds said, “I couldn’t get the acting right as young Scrooge while he was on the phone. I got it through trial and error. Try, try again.”
LCTC’S ‘A Christmas Carol’ runs December 18, 19, 20, 24 — 7PM. Tickets are $5. They can be purchased at LCTC.US.