The audience can enjoy special effects, valuable lessons and unique costumes while enjoying a festive and somewhat spooky tale
Haddonfield Plays & Players invites residents and surrounding communities to take an adventure into one of literature’s classic Charles Dickens novels, “A Christmas Carol,” which centers around Ebenezer Scrooge, played by Michael Hicks, and his journey through time. Valuable lessons are incorporated seamlessly throughout the play by more than 20 talented cast members.
“This particular script is actually a real Shakespearean company’s treatment of the script so it’s the traditional Dickens. According to our director, it’s one of the closest representations of the book itself,” Hicks explained.
The audience can enjoy special effects and unique costumes while experiencing a festive and somewhat spooky tale. One of the unique features about this particular play is the cast and how each member is able to convey some of life’s most valuable lessons through their characters.
“Treating the character as Director Mark Karcher has directed me, Scrooge never crumbles. Even right up to the very end … he negotiates himself. No matter how staunch or serious a person can be, or pig-headed, you can still get to the other side of your problem if you simply understand that it doesn’t always have to be the way you want it,” Hicks explained.
When Alex Levitt, who plays the Ghost of Christmas Present and various other characters, was asked what he thinks guests will take from the show, he jokingly said, “Yelling ‘Humbug’ is going to make a huge revival in 2018.”
Despite the popularity of Dickens’ work, the reenactment is expected to leave the audience with a new perspective on a classic tale.
“If you read a book, like ‘Harry Potter,’ and then you go see the movie, it’s different … so I would say, ‘you should come see it.’ It may never happen in this area for a while,” Tess Smith, who plays young Cratchit, said.
Since September, the cast has been rehearsing three times a week in preparation for their December debut. Each cast member is not only passionate about making this performance one of Haddonfield’s most memorable holiday performances, but displaying their talents as actors and actresses.
“It’s very easy to downplay the work everyone has put into it. It is impressive to see everybody up on stage playing however many parts they play and in each one they bring a completely new character. It’s like they are not even the same actor up there anymore, so I think coming to see this cast in particular is just very impressive. It’s clear how hard they worked and the production team as well, it’s a great testament to how hard people here worked,” box office manager and production assistant Brennan Diono said.
“It’s a really fun cast, and we want to make it as enjoyable as possible,” Smith added.
Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at www.haddonfieldplayers.com. Tickets are $15 and $10 on selected discount nights. To inquire about which nights are discounted, call (856) 429–8139. Haddonfield Plays & Players is located at 957 E. Atlantic Ave.
Show times are as follows:
Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. (Mid-week special)
Friday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 9 at 3 p.m. (Markdown Matinee) and 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 10 at 2 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 14 at 8 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. (Date Night)
Saturday, Dec. 16 at 8 p.m.
