“Old Marley was dead as a doornail, and no doubt about it.”
That’s how this year’s fall play, Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, adopted by Romulus Linney begins. It’s playing on November 16, 17, and 18 at 7:00 PM, and tickets are available here.
The play tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, played by senior Aidan Oliver, and his journey to Christmas spirit. Over one night, Christmas Eve, three apparitions appear in front of Scrooge to warn him of the repercussions of his miserly actions.
The cast consists of around 35 RHS students and 6 young actors, and there are over 10 more students on tech crew. Behind the scenes, the tech crew works to master lighting, build and paint sets, and generally run the show. In front of the curtain, the actors rehearse, and then they rehearse some more.
The show has been in production since auditions occurred on September 20-22. Since then, the cast has met up nearly every evening to bring Dickens’s characters to life. “Rehearsal is a great experience where we get to know one another and work with each other to bring the scenes to life,” Junior Quinn O’Donovan explains. Quinn plays the Ghost of Christmas Present, the second ghost that attempts to teach Scrooge about Christmas spirit.
A Christmas Carol is a unique show, as it follows one main character, and everyone else is only in the show for a short period of time. That being said, director Mr. Dietzler created an ensemble of ghosts present throughout the entire show. Every single actor besides the three main ghosts and Scrooge is not only a character, but also a part of the ghost collective.
“I think that [it’s] a really cool added feature that isn’t in a lot of productions,” Shane Roche, who plays Fred, describes. “I saw one stage production of A Christmas Carol and they didn’t have it, so I think that it’s a really cool concept… [and] I can’t wait to see it.”
The ghost ensemble is also used to highlight the horror—and heighten the impact. “I really like how Dietzler is playing the horror aspect because… it really adds to the juxtaposition between the beginning and the end of the show,” Aidan Oliver added. That juxtaposition creates a “cathartic [feeling] at the end of the show because throughout, it is a very dark and sad story, but at the end there is a feeling of joy and jubilation. Everyone ends up on stage together, and it feels like a very communal experience.” Aidan’s favorite aspect of the play is “the way in which you see every person impacting Scrooge as a character. By the end he has had moments with every single member of the cast,” and that is clearly seen through both the actors and Mr. Dietzler’s clever directing.
Beyond the production details themselves, the show is incredibly important to a lot of people. Throughout the process, the cast has bonded over their time spent and love for the show. “It’s a big commitment, especially during tech week when the show is coming up, but I think it’s all going to be very fun and worthwhile,” Freshman Katie Bowman, the Ghost of Christmas Past, explained. “It’s a really smooth process; it’s really put together; it’s honestly really exciting and fun to see everything.” Freshman Jackson Diskin, who plays Caroline’s Husband and Mr. Topper, added that “it’s overall a really good process, and I’ve been able to make a lot of friends along the way.” This play has also been just as important for upperclassmen. Aidan, for example, is excited for what comes next, but “the play has definitely been home for the last few years.” That’s not a feeling that’s easy to ignore.
The crew, too, have devoted themselves to this play. “We’ve spent a lot of time on this show and we’re so proud of all the work we’ve done. We’ve become a really good crew in these past few months and we know everything will come together,” Stage Manager Abby Frey noted. With all the hard work of the cast, crew, and production team, the show is bound to be a success.
“Overall everyone cares a lot,” Shane concluded. Don’t miss the show this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:00 PM!
