This year鈥檚 Cornerstone Theatre鈥檚 version of Dickens鈥� 鈥淐hristmas Carol鈥� was top quality entertainment and wonderfully produced. The adaptation of this favourite Christmas story is brilliantly written by Doug Waldner and directed by him and Jesse Twietmeyer and Diane Twietmeyer.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 It is very well contrived and each character is well casted in each of the roles.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The story is set in the 1800鈥檚 when the first steam-powered coal-fired ships began to sail the seas. The play takes place on the ship, Humble Bug, the magnificently crafted ship and set,聽 masterfully created by Paul Twietmeyer, brings the audience dockside for the vessel鈥檚 maiden voyage.
Ebenezer Scrooge, played by Monte McNaughton, is the proud owner of the shipping company, he has boarded with Bob Cratchit in tow, played by Lori Noble Briner to inspect the technology of the day before the ship sails.聽
Crachit鈥檚 wife, played by Erica Armstrong, comes to dockside with her children and boards the ship with the passengers to give Christmas wishes to her husband before leaving for home.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Captain, played by Jesse Twietmeyer, pulls anchor with all aboard. He runs a tight ship, the crew swabbing the deck for the opening scene disembarks on time, to his solo of 鈥淪ail Away鈥�.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The pit orchestra, consisting of band members Michele Amy, Morgan Turk, Lane Easton, Tom Richards and Claude Poirier is right on cue and the music is directed by Diane Twietmeyer.聽 Each musical piece was well suited to the story the entire night. Will Elliot was the music and sound man.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Cratchit鈥檚 family is unaware of the ship鈥檚 departure time and are brought to the Captain presented as stowaways. They plead their story of why they are present and out of the goodness of his heart, permits them to be guests on the voyage, allowing them to take residence in the shipline鈥檚 owner鈥檚 stateroom.聽
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Scrooge and Cratchit, marvelling at the new machinery in the engine room, and unaware of the call to set sail, are discovered and presented to the Captain as more stowaways.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The captain, not in any mood for an explanation, disbelieves Scrooges tall tale he is the owner of the shipline, sending Cratchit to the galley and Scrooge is sent to the engine room to shovel coal for attempting such a far-fetched lie.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Scrooge, contemplating his situation, is visited by his past partner鈥檚 ghost, Jacob Marley, played by Paul Twietmeyer, who warns him to take heed of the message that three visitors will soon deliver.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The visitors come as three pirates Anne Bonny, played by Meryle Cruywels, Captain Morgan, played by Fred Perry and Blackbeard played by David Slykhuis. They convey to Scrooge his past, present and future and give him guidance to overcome the dubious shortcomings he has created for himself and others in his life.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The final song, sang by all cast, 鈥淭he Last Saskatchewan Pirate鈥� is a powerhouse musical ending for the play and appreciative audience.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Also casted in the play are First Mate; Sophie Turk, Coal Shoveler; Lane Easton, Young Scrooge; Meagan McCauley, Scrooge鈥檚 Girlfriend; Jessica Shirley Dormuth, Cutthroat; Roy Rutagines, Midwife; Laurie Fornwald, Chief Cook; Craig Savill Sailors: Joretta King, Emma Boutin, Bryanne Forcier, Leola Hirtle, and the Cratchit Children: Kassidy Schultz, Rayanne Poirier, Lennox McNaughton, Weston Dormuth and Kendrick Dormuth.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Also credited in this year鈥檚 delightful musical production are: lights and sound; Sean Perry, Videographer; Dennis Coffey, Prompt: Joan Bue, Signage and Advertising, Don and Marylin Carter and Programs, Erica Armstrong.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The play鈥檚 dress rehearsal was on Wednesday, December 4 and then performed at the Memorial Hall as a keynote part of the Dickens Festival held in Carlyle, with performances on December 6, 7, and 8.聽 Specially invited guests for the Wednesday show were from Moose Mountain Lodge.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The play had some very authentic sailor language and entertained all those attending and left everyone looking forward to next year鈥檚 show.聽 To out-do this year鈥檚 edition the Cornerstone Theatre will need to come up with something that is completely out of this world!
