2015 A Christmas Carol BY Charles Dickens ADAPTED BY MICHAEL SHAMATA PRODUCTION SPONSORS 40TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON SPONSORS CALL 250.385.6515 TODAY | VICTORIASYMPHONY.CA VS HOLIDAY CONCERTS A Sentimental Christmas We’re just getting warmed up. december 11, 12 & 13 Handel’s Messiah 75TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON SPONSOR december 18 & 20 W AYNE S TRANDLUND AND Christmas with Holly Cole december 19, 8pm A Viennese New Year’s january 1, 2:30pm Artistic Director’s Notes Welcome to our production of A Christmas Carol. It’s beginning to feel a lot like tradition – and what a grand feeling that is! This story is immortal, and is also that rare classic whose message remains potent year after year after year. Dickens’ writing is so exceptional that no matter how many times I have directed A Christmas Carol – and it must now be close to 15 – I have never failed to be profoundly moved. Ebenezer Scrooge’s rediscovery of past joys, when his heart has been closed off for so many years, is a remarkable sight. That Scrooge is able to move beyond his injuries and resentments, and re-enter the world with humanity and love, is a hopeful and positive reminder to us all. What bliss to work on this piece again with Tom McBeath – one of our greatest actors – in the company of such rich talents as Jessica Hickman, Brian Linds, Amanda Lisman, Celine Stubel, Jan Wood, our new company members Geoffrey Ewert, John Han and Anton Lipovetsky, and back again as Tom’s constant companion on his journey through time, Gerry Mackay. Plus our younger and smaller actors: Lauren Alberico, Abby Baker, Ajay Parikh-Friese and Kyle Atlas Stahl. It is my great thrill to return to this story, and my great joy to share it with you again. May you and your family experience all the blessings of this holiday season, Save The Date May 14 Celebrate the Belfry’s 40th Anniversary with a very special Gala Evening featuring food, drink and a very entertaining, one night only show. Visit our Box Office to reserve your seats today! Photo: Jo-Ann Richards, Works Photography Notes from the Executive Director As part of our Belfry family, we welcome you to this beautiful stage adaptation of A Christmas Carol. Its story signals the time of year when our hearts and minds turn to family, community, and sharing the kindness of the season. It is also a time to appreciate all we receive from our loved ones and our community. We are so grateful to our many sponsors and supporters; we could not possibly produce the work we bring you without their generous contributions to us. The many local businesses who contribute to the arts in our community deserve your patronage. We take pride in having them as our friends and in recognizing their assistance in each of our programmes and I encourage you to frequent our business partners as you shop for gifts and other needs during the holiday season and beyond. However you celebrate this time of year, may your family, friends, and all who cross paths with you enjoy the season and be healthy and prosperous as we enter into a new year’s promise. “Men’s courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead,” says Scrooge. “But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change.” THERE’S ‘XMAS’ AND THEN THERE’S CHRISTMAS. CELEBRATE THE REAL ONE HERE. Experience Christmas through the lens of the Victorian era and see how we capture the true spirit of the season. CHRISTMAS PROGRAM A CHRISTMAS CAROL FEATURING JASON STEVENS LIVE SEASONAL MUSIC & CHILDREN’S STORIES On through December. Visit thecastle.ca for details. 1050 JOAN CRESCENT 250.592.5323 CHMS_9149_Vic_Arts_Marketing_K.indd 1 2015-11-10 4:30 PM DEC 18 t 7:30PM DEC 19 t 2:00 & 7:30PM Paul O’Brien, Julia Cunningham, Nicholas Fairbank, Kelby MacNayr, Danuel Tate, Joey Smith, Dave Flello, and Matt Bawtinheimer JOY OF LIFE CHOIR tFOLKESTRA tBC FIDDLE ORCHESTRA ALIX GOOLDEN HALL 907 PANDORA AVENUE 'SJEBZ 4BUVSEBZ.BUJOFÏt4BUVSEBZ&WFOJOHt,JET6OEFS tWDNCDDBIPNFGPSDISJTUNBT We acknowledge the VCM Funding nancial assistance of the Partners Province of British Columbia The Belfry Theatre presents A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens adapted by Michael Shamata starring Tom McBeath as Ebenezer Scrooge with Geoffrey Ewert John Han Jessica Hickman Brian Linds Anton Lipovetsky Amanda Lisman Gerry Mackay Celine Stubel Jan Wood & Lauren Alberico Abby Baker Ajay Parikh-Friese Kyle Atlas Stahl as the Cratchit Children Director Michael Shamata Costume Designer Nancy Bryant Set Designer John Ferguson Lighting Designer Alan Brodie Composer Geordie Haley Choreographer Jessica Hickman Stage Manager Sara Robb Assistant Stage Manager Erin Voaklander Apprentice Stage Manager Sadie Fox Assistant Director Tristan Bacon Assistant Lighting Designer Ben Burrow Dialect Coach Adrienne Smook A Christmas Carol is approximately two hours in length, including one 15-minute interval. A Christmas Carol was originally produced by Theatre New Brunswick in 1990, starring Douglas Campbell. The use of video and/or audio recording devices is strictly prohibited at all times. A Christmas Carol is generously sponsored by: 40th Anniversary Season Sponsors: Public Funders: The Belfry Theatre is a registered Canadian charity, 11921 5549 RR0001. The Belfry Theatre is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres and engages under the terms of the Canadian Theatre Agreement professional artists who are members of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association. The Belfry Theatre is a member of the Theatre Communications Group, USA., Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce and the Professional Arts Alliance of Greater Victoria. Please enjoy the performance. A Christmas Carol Synopsis Hard-hearted, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge sits in his counting-house on a gloomy Christmas Eve. His clerk, Bob Cratchit, shivers in the anteroom because Scrooge refuses to spend money on coal for the fire. When Scrooge's nephew, Fred, pays a visit, Scrooge rejects Fred’s invitation to spend Christmas with him and his new wife. A gentleman drops by collecting money for the poor, and Scrooge responds that he helps support the workhouses, the prisons and the treadmill “and those who are poorly off must go there.” At home that evening, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his dead partner, Jacob Marley, who relates his unfortunate fate: as punishment for his greedy, self-serving life, his spirit has been condemned to wander the Earth weighed down by heavy chains. Marley hopes to save Scrooge from sharing his fate, by sending three Spirits who will “haunt” him on each of the next three nights. The Ghost of Christmas Past escorts Scrooge on a journey through scenes from his youth: his Christmas alone at boarding school; the Christmas his sister came to rescue him; Christmas with the Fezziwigs, where he was an apprentice; and the Christmas when his fiancé Belle broke off their engagement because his lust for money had eclipsed his ability to love. The Ghost of Christmas Present – who exists for just this one day – flies Scrooge over London to witness some of the pleasures of the holiday season. They visit the impoverished home of his clerk, Bob Cratchit, whose children include the lame and sickly Tiny Tim. The Ghost takes Scrooge to his nephew's home where he witnesses the warmth of friendship, and understands how he has wounded Fred. As Christmas Day comes to a close, the Ghost forces Scrooge to acknowledge the existence of Ignorance and Want: two evils that society must erase. The silent Ghost of Christmas Yet-To-Come leads Scrooge through a series of mysterious scenes, related to the death of an unnamed man: businessmen discussing the man’s funeral; a woman selling his personal effects; a poor couple rejoicing at the death of their merciless creditor; and the Cratchit family mourning the death of Tiny Tim. Scrooge, begging to know the name of the dead man, finds himself in a churchyard, facing a grave, where the headstone is revealed to have his own name carved upon it. He implores the Spirit to alter his fate, promising to renounce his selfish ways, and to honor Christmas with all his heart. 1296 Gladstone Ave Fernwood Square 250.590.7982 Tuesday - Sunday 5pm-9pm Dinner before the show…night cap after the show…we share the square…stop in! belfry ticket holder discounts. ww.cavavictoria.com A Christmas Carol England, 1843 Ebenezer Scrooge Tom McBeath Jacob Marley Gerry Mackay Spirit John Han Spirit Jessica Hickman Bob Cratchit Anton Lipovetsky Mr. Fred Geoffrey Ewert A Charitable Gentleman Brian Linds Mrs. Dilber Jan Wood The Past 1796 – 1812 Ghost of Christmas Past Gerry Mackay Ebenezer as a Boy Kyle Atlas Stahl Fan Abby Baker Mrs. Bingley Jan Wood Miss Hurst Celine Stubel Ali Baba John Han Ebenezer as a Young Man Geoffrey Ewert Dick Wilkins Anton Lipovetsky Mr. Fezziwig Brian Linds Mrs. Fezziwig Jan Wood Flora Celine Stubel Belle Amanda Lisman The Present 1843 Ghost of Christmas Present Gerry Mackay Mrs. Cratchit Celine Stubel Belinda Abby Baker Peter Ajay Parikh-Friese Martha Lauren Alberico Tiny Tim Kyle Atlas Stahl Mr. Fred’s Wife Celine Stubel Mr. Clenham Anton Lipovetsky Miss Jane Jan Wood Topper Brian Linds Agnes Amanda Lisman Belle’s Husband Geoffrey Ewert The Future 1844 Ghost of Christmas Yet-To-Come Gerry Mackay Businessman Geoffrey Ewert Businessman Anton Lipovetsky Joe Brian Linds Debtor Geoffrey Ewert Debtor’s Wife Amanda Lisman Boy Ajay Parikh-Friese Brigit Jan Wood Belfry Theatre Board of Directors President Helen Lansdowne Box Office/ Front of House Jane Broomfield Vice President Dr. Monty Bryant Venue Technician Ben Burrow Secretary Georgia Gibbs Box Office Clerk Michelle Chowns Treasurer Robert Thomson, CA Alex Currie Production Manager Directors Gloria Back Marketing & Communications Dr.