For one month out of the year, you get to indulge in all things Christmas.
We get to watch classics like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Elf, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and A Charlie Brown Christmas.
There are ballets like The Nutcracker and books including titles such as The Night Before Christmas, The Polar Express and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, to read after sitting on the shelves for the last 11 months.
But even we like a little variety mixed in with our classics. Which is why we were quite intrigued when we caught wind of an original adaptation of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol going on over at Hatbox Theatre.
It’s got a four-week performance window, with three each weekend, and it just happens that we got a chance to catch last Friday’s show.
With two more weekends left to see it, we thought you might want an inside look at what it’s all about. But don’t worry, we won’t ruin any of the surprises – rather we just want to whet your appetite.
The adaptation was done by Jill Pinard, with Hatbox owner Andrew Pinard handling the directorial duties.
The production has everything you might expect from the classic Charles Dickens tale, but it comes with a twist. Taking Scrooge’s statement in the original story, “You may be an undigested bit of beef” at face value, the show is done in a way that has you questioning whether Scrooge’s faithful night was actually a bad dream that leads to redemption.
The play opens with Ebenezer Scrooge, played by Concord favorite in the theater world, Erik Peter Hodges, and Bob Cratchit working in Scrooge’s shop. Scrooge’s nephew, Fred comes in looking to share some holiday cheer. But he’s only met with Scrooge’s classic line – bah humbug.
Scrooge’s naturally charming self dismisses a couple of charity-seeking young ladies and chastises Cratchit for taking Christmas day off.
Once home for the evening, he’s met with by the ghost of Christmas past and the story takes off from there.
The opening act ends with a visit from the ghost of Christmas present, and the second act opens as the two navigate through the current world, including a trip to the Cratchit’s house and a closer look at Tiny Tim.
And of course, there’s a visit from the ghost of Christmas future, but you’ll have to see it to know how it all ends. There’s also a nice surprise at the very end of the performance, which including a 15-minute intermission is just under an hour and a half.
The acting was great, as almost all of the cast members played multiple roles.
Add in some projections, natural sounds and period appropriate costumes and this version is a can’t miss.
Performances will be held this weekend and next, on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $16.50 for general admission, and $13.50 for members, seniors and students. Tickets can be purchased online at hatboxnh.com and reserved by calling 715- 2315.
