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FCT presents holiday classic ‘A Christmas Carol’
The Ghost of Christmas Present (Scott Heine) makes an appeal to Scrooge with Patrick Donovan and Leanne Embree at his side during rehearsal Saturday of FCT’s ‘A Christmas Carol.’ Photo by Adam Goings
Jack Seeley as Scrooge pleads with the Ghost of Christmas Future (played by Kirk Noe) during rehearsal Saturday at the theater at Vint Hill.
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Several muttered “Hum - bugs!” and twice as many smiles bring a beloved Christmas tale to life this weekend when Fauquier Community Theater opens its performance of “A Christmas Carol.”
The classic Victorian tale of redemption returns to the Vint Hill stage under the guidance of first-time director Susan Noe, who hopes the production highlights the spirit and time-honored tradition of the story as originally written by Charles Dickens.
“I read at least 10 [different] scripts and compared them to the original novella that Dickens wrote, and this version is truest to the original story,” she said.
Noe feels the loyalty to both the darkness, as well as the light, of the literature provides heightened contrast in the transformation of the plot’s well-known character, Ebeneezer Scrooge.
“I like the story of somebody being able to change and how personal relationships affect you,” she said.
The veteran Fauquier Community Theater costumer turned to the show after plans for her first selection, “White Christmas,” were put on hold because the rights to perform it could not be obtained.
Although her second choice, Noe said “A Christmas Carol” is a personal favorite.
Noe chose her 40-member cast from more than 90 auditions, selecting Jack Seeley of Leesburg for the part of Scrooge.
“Several people auditioned for the part, but I felt he could do it justice,” she said. “I was looking for someone who could transition from a curmudgeon to someone more jovial and Jack does an excellent job of that.”
Seeley, who has appeared in three other Fauquier Com - munity Theater shows, noted the obvious challenge in portraying the difficult character development required of his part.
“My main problem with the way it’s usually played is that [Scrooge] goes from absolute evil to angelic and I think you need to see glimmers of a human being [in him] from the begin-n i n g,” S e e l e y said.
“ [ H i s development] is a g r a d u a l u n d e r - standing not just of what he’s m i s s e d , but the p e o p l e he’s left b e h i n d and what he’s lost. T h i n g s you miss you can catch up with, but things that are lost are gone, and in the end he’s determined not to lose anymore.”
For Seeley, as well as several supporting actors, the Cratchit family’s interaction provides some of the most poignant moments in the play. It is in that moment, as the Ghost of Christmas Present offers Scrooge a glimpse of their love and holiday spirit, that the character turns the critical corner in his journey toward inner change.
“We’re trying to portray love because we don’t have anything else,” said Warrenton resident Gary Parsons, whose character, Bob Cratchit embodies the Christmas spirit of the ordinary working man. “He just loves Christmas and doesn’t care what his circumstances are.”
During the play, much of the Cratchit family’s love is displayed in off-script physical improvisation such as hugs and meaningful looks.
“That scene shows Scrooge what Christmas is really all about,” said Scott Heine of Jeffersonton, who portrays the Ghost of Christmas Present.
Heine loves playing Dickens’ version of Father Christmas.
“Whenever anything is said about Christmas, my character kind of goes nuts...[but] in a good ‘out of control’ way, like joy without limits,” he said.
He believes the play “delves into the darkness of the human soul,” demonstrating the idea that anyone could end up a Scrooge.
“We live in a culture that’s ‘all about you’ and it’s telling us to take care of ourselves first,” he said. “But Christmas is about giving and if we pass that on, the world becomes a beautiful, delightful place.”
Noe hopes the community will make time to see the family show “because it’s a story that could change anybody, no matter what age,” she said. “It takes you away from the Santa Claus Christmas and back to a family Christmas...and ends on a happy note. I think that’s what Christmas is all about.”
“A Christmas Carol” will run three weekends Dec. 2 through 18, with Friday and Saturday performances at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
For more information or tickets, visit the Fauquier Community Theater web site: http://www.fctstage.org.
The classic Victorian tale of redemption returns to the Vint Hill stage under the guidance of first-time director Susan Noe, who hopes the production highlights the spirit and time-honored tradition of the story as originally written by Charles Dickens.
“I read at least 10 [different] scripts and compared them to the original novella that Dickens wrote, and this version is truest to the original story,” she said.
Noe feels the loyalty to both the darkness, as well as the light, of the literature provides heightened contrast in the transformation of the plot’s well-known character, Ebeneezer Scrooge.
“I like the story of somebody being able to change and how personal relationships affect you,” she said.
The veteran Fauquier Community Theater costumer turned to the show after plans for her first selection, “White Christmas,” were put on hold because the rights to perform it could not be obtained.
Although her second choice, Noe said “A Christmas Carol” is a personal favorite.
Noe chose her 40-member cast from more than 90 auditions, selecting Jack Seeley of Leesburg for the part of Scrooge.
“Several people auditioned for the part, but I felt he could do it justice,” she said. “I was looking for someone who could transition from a curmudgeon to someone more jovial and Jack does an excellent job of that.”
Seeley, who has appeared in three other Fauquier Com - munity Theater shows, noted the obvious challenge in portraying the difficult character development required of his part.
“My main problem with the way it’s usually played is that [Scrooge] goes from absolute evil to angelic and I think you need to see glimmers of a human being [in him] from the begin-n i n g,” S e e l e y said.
“ [ H i s development] is a g r a d u a l u n d e r - standing not just of what he’s m i s s e d , but the p e o p l e he’s left b e h i n d and what he’s lost. T h i n g s you miss you can catch up with, but things that are lost are gone, and in the end he’s determined not to lose anymore.”
For Seeley, as well as several supporting actors, the Cratchit family’s interaction provides some of the most poignant moments in the play. It is in that moment, as the Ghost of Christmas Present offers Scrooge a glimpse of their love and holiday spirit, that the character turns the critical corner in his journey toward inner change.
“We’re trying to portray love because we don’t have anything else,” said Warrenton resident Gary Parsons, whose character, Bob Cratchit embodies the Christmas spirit of the ordinary working man. “He just loves Christmas and doesn’t care what his circumstances are.”
During the play, much of the Cratchit family’s love is displayed in off-script physical improvisation such as hugs and meaningful looks.
“That scene shows Scrooge what Christmas is really all about,” said Scott Heine of Jeffersonton, who portrays the Ghost of Christmas Present.
Heine loves playing Dickens’ version of Father Christmas.
“Whenever anything is said about Christmas, my character kind of goes nuts...[but] in a good ‘out of control’ way, like joy without limits,” he said.
He believes the play “delves into the darkness of the human soul,” demonstrating the idea that anyone could end up a Scrooge.
“We live in a culture that’s ‘all about you’ and it’s telling us to take care of ourselves first,” he said. “But Christmas is about giving and if we pass that on, the world becomes a beautiful, delightful place.”
Noe hopes the community will make time to see the family show “because it’s a story that could change anybody, no matter what age,” she said. “It takes you away from the Santa Claus Christmas and back to a family Christmas...and ends on a happy note. I think that’s what Christmas is all about.”
“A Christmas Carol” will run three weekends Dec. 2 through 18, with Friday and Saturday performances at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
For more information or tickets, visit the Fauquier Community Theater web site: http://www.fctstage.org.
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