A Christmas Carol returns in front of live audiences with a streamlined production at Max Bell Theatre
For over three decades, a live version of A Christmas Carol became a mainstay of holiday tradition at Theatre Calgary. Then in 2020, the pandemic brought live theatre to a screeching halt across the world.
As with much of the performing arts, the show went on in 2020, only in a digitally streamed version that brought Scrooge to a laptop near you.
With the easing of restrictions this year, Theatre Calgary is once again presenting the Charles Dickens classic to a live audience; a 75 minute, three-person stage version inspired by 2020’s direct-to-film production.
Calgary playwright Geoffrey Simon Brown has updated the play to specifically cater to the energy of a live audience, with two separate three-person casts, Ivy and Holly, alternating during the production’s four week run.
What's different in 2021? Not only a new Scrooge, but two of them!
That's because Stephen Hair, the iconic Scrooge who has become as much of a Calgary symbol as the Calgary Tower or a white cowboy hat, had to bow out this year due to a family health issue.
In his place comes another pair of familiar Calgary theatre faces, Haysam Kadri and Mike Tan, to pick up the bah-humbug baton from the absent Hair.
Haysam Kadri as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, Dec. 21, 2021
(Haysam Kadri as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol at Theatre Calgary)
“The timing of this version I think will be really special,” said Tan, who plays Scrooge in the “Ivy” cast. “It’s going to be something that connects with a lot of people, to hopefully appreciate being with each other, seeing each other, and realizing our lives don’t only exist in solitary,” added Tan.
Referring to the long break forced upon live theatre as a result of the pandemic, Tan felt much of the crew and cast were bursting with excitement. “This is the first time in a theatre in front of an audience in some time for me,” explained Tan. “But this character, for me it’s a blast … I share the stage with amazing cast-mates and when we’re up there it’s truly a massive joy to be able to do this show together".
Allison Lynch in A Christmas Carol, Dec. 1, 2021
(Allison Lynch in A Christmas Carol)
“I haven’t been able to do this show with an audience for two years,” said Marshall Vielle, who plays the Ghost of Christmas Present in the “Holly” cast. Vielle was also a cast member on the 2020 digital version of the production.
“I see this play as something a lot of folks really look forward to every year, (and) last year they weren’t able to come into the theatre, but giving them the chance to come back this year, it feels kind of like everyone is coming home," said Vielle.
“We’re taking this story back, we’ve shared this tale with audiences for 30-plus years, we weren’t able to do it last year but we’re going to make it great for audiences this year,” added Vielle.
A Christmas Carol is directed by Stafford Arima and presented by Theatre Calgary at Arts Commons, Max Bell Theatre. Alternating casts will be featured through December 30.
More information can be found at www.theatrecalgary.com.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cargo ship had engine maintenance in port before Baltimore bridge collapse, officials say
The cargo ship that lost power and crashed into a bridge in Baltimore underwent 'routine engine maintenance' in port beforehand, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Far North police 'dispatch' polar bear stalking schoolyard
Police and local hunters in an Ontario Far North First Nation community have “dispatched” a polar that was showing abnormal behaviour and treating the area as a hunting ground.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
Families shocked after Niagara Falls hotel cancels bookings made year in advance of solar eclipse
After having the foresight to book their Niagara Falls hotel rooms more than a year in advance, several families planning to take in the solar eclipse next month were shocked to find out their reservations had been cancelled.
B.C. rescuers face 'high likelihood' of failure to reunite orphaned orca with pod
The race to reunite an orphaned orca calf that’s stuck in a shallow lagoon with a neighbouring pod has entered its fifth day, and a marine scientist says the clock is ticking.
Video shows police interrupting auto theft in progress outside Toronto home
New video footage obtained by CP24 shows the attempted theft of a vehicle in a North York driveway earlier this month that was ultimately interrupted by police.
Majority of Canadians believe in life after death: Angus Reid survey
A new survey from the Angus Reid Institute has found that a majority of Canadians believe in some form of life after death, a proportion that has held steady for decades.
MyPillow, owned by U.S. election denier Mike Lindell, formally evicted from Minnesota warehouse
A court ordered the eviction Wednesday of MyPillow from a suburban Minneapolis warehouse that it formerly used.