Holiday classic slated Dec. 11,12 at Plumb Memorial Library
Charles Dickens wrote his holiday classic “A Christmas Carol” in London in 1843 in the midst of England’s industrial revolution.
It was originally written to be published as a pamphlet to inspire social reform.
At the time, London was teeming with problems: in only 80 years its population quadrupled from 1 million to 4.5 million; crime was rampant-the police estimated that 20,000 children were being trained in thievery; the city’s water supply was polluted; housing was sparse and cramped with entire families living in one small room; and education for children was at an all-time low.
Charles Dickens wrote his holiday classic “A Christmas Carol” in London in 1843 in the midst of England’s industrial revolution.
It was originally written to be published as a pamphlet to inspire social reform.
At the time, London was teeming with problems: in only 80 years its population quadrupled from 1 million to 4.5 million; crime was rampant-the police estimated that 20,000 children were being trained in thievery; the city’s water supply was polluted; housing was sparse and cramped with entire families living in one small room; and education for children was at an all-time low.
It is into this world that Valley Shakespeare Festival will take its audiences at 7 p.m. Dec. 11, and at 1 p.m. Dec.12. Presented without elaborate period costuming and staging, VSF’s production puts the emphasis on the true meaning of the story.
Jeremy Funke (Scrooge) explains: “What I like best about VSF’s stripped-down presentation of this classic tale is that it forces the audience to focus on the story-the audience’s imagination is our special effects designer, and I can’t think of a better way for them to experience it.”
Audience members will join Ebenezer Scrooge on his transformational journey through his own personal darkness of bitterness and disillusion on that fateful Christmas Eve and emerge with him on that brilliant Christmas morning with renewed faith in God and humanity.
Tom Simonetti, the company’s Executive and Artistic Director (and Bob Cratchit), echoes this sentiment,
“The story is powerful enough on its own not to need all kinds of embellishment. I love to see the children’s and families’ reactions to Jacob Marley’s chains, Tiny Tim, and Scrooge’s last speech. It’s a story that needs to be told because it reminds us of the kind of people we should be all year long. It’s exactly what we need.”
Gary Harger, who will be playing multiple roles, said he is “looking forward to coming up with three distinct characterizations, accents, mannerisms, etc. I’ve always loved the story…ever since I was a kid, and although there are many film and musical versions out there now, my favorite is still the 1951 film version with Alistair Sim-the one I watched when I was a kid!”
Valley Shakespeare Festival will present it staged reading of “A Christmas Carol” in the Reading Room of Plumb Memorial Library, 65 Wooster St., Shelton, which Simonetti describes as a “dream venue” for the story.
“It reflects the time period perfectly with its Romanesque style, huge fireplace, and Victorian wing chairs,” he said.
Anyone wishing to experience this memorable moment in history may reserve seats by calling Valley Shakespeare Festival, 203-513-9446, or by visiting www.vsfestival.org.
The event is presented free of charge with a suggested donation of $10 per person. Seating is limited and reservations are encouraged.
This is a press release from Valley Shakespeare Festival, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt non-profit theater company serving the communities of the Lower Naugatuck Valley.
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