If you are a fan of ABCs Once Upon A Time, the Beaver Dam Area Community Theater’s production of a Fairy Tale Christmas Carol should be right up your alley. Director Heidi Freeby is staging an adaptation of the timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge through characters found in the book Mother Goose.
In fact, the character of Mother Goose, played wonderfully by Barb Vockroth, serves as our narrator for the show. Barb’s character is responsible for chronicling that infamous Christmas Eve of Scrooge AKA The Big Bad Wolf, played by BDACT veteran Joe Lord. Long time BDACT patrons need to know little more than these two cast members to know that this will be a well-acted play. However, there are many new and young faces worthy of mention.
Newcomer, Chris Connoly, who played multiple hilarious roles in the last BDACT production of Leaving Iowa, is stellar in the Role of Old King Cole/The Ghost of Christmas Present. It is obvious that Chris is comfortable in a Shakespearian type role. I love watching him act.
Kristen Devet, also a new face plays the ever perky Meriweather/Ghost of Christmas Past. No, not the distant past, Scrooge’s past. I saw shades of Carol Kane’s “Scrooged” rendition of the Ghost of Christmas Present in Kristen’s performance. She made me smile and laugh with some of the new words this character invented.
The ghost of Jacob Marley, I mean Jacob Midas, played by Harv Woebbeking is reminiscent of famed DJ Wolfman Jack. Harv’s performance also put a smile on my face. He plays Marley not with the traditional haunted remorse that is typically seen, but with youthful exuberance, and Harv is only young at heart.
The Cratchet’s are portrayed through the lives of The Charmings. As in Prince Philip Charming and Cinderella and their three children Tabitha/Tiny Tim, Hansel and Gretel. Teenagers Wriley Hoffman and Maddie Garbalagtys make a beautiful couple and pull off the mushy scenes quite well. Heidi could not have cast a cuter or more adorable Tiny Tim than Mylana Lunde. This girl has the it factor that every director is looking for.
My review could not be complete without mentioning a young actress who played multiple roles. The roles of Goldilocks/Belle (Scrooge’s fiancé) and The Queen of Hearts/Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come. Raquel Loppnow throws herself into both roles and is particularly memorable in the role of The Queen of Hearts.
The group of businessmen who are tossed out of Scrooge’s building while seeking charity for the poor on Christmas Eve are portrayed as the Three Little Pigs. They are played by Brienna Landsness, Eliza Bohlig and John Freeby. The twist on the tales are a nice piece of writing. The Big Bad Wolf has huffed and puffed and blew down two of the Three Little Pig homes and he will not be made to feel pity on them. Brilliant and amusing.
Other young faces that you may remember from past Tell A Tale productions and summer musical productions include. Jalen Peters who capably portrays Scrooge’s nephew Jack, Kadon Hoffman, Natalie Franke, Isaiah Devet, Kelsey Saniter, Grant Bohlig, Luke Eberle, Owen Connoly, and Raenne Gayan.
Sound effects are handled by Scott Eberle, lighting design by Matt Freeby. Production crew includes; Roxie Miller, Diane Rabehl, Laura Connoly, Bonnie Franke, Mary Neuman, Kathi Gallus and Carla Woebbeking.
A FAIRY TALE CHRISTMAS CAROL December 5, 6, 12 & 13 at 7:30 pm December 7 & 14 at 2:00 pm Tickets on sale at Rechek’s Food Pride Regular Admission $13.00 920-887-7675 – See more at: https://bdact.org/shows-
