FCP Director Turns Acting Virtuoso

Our fearless leader, JT, is good at a lot of things. Managing a budget. Hiring fabulous staff. Playing obscure, hipster music in the office. Typing really fast on his shiny Macbook. He can even karaoke hard rock with the best (there's video proof, don't worry). But you'd never know JT is a brilliant actor because he hasn't been in a play since the fifth grade. Years of wasted talent, but lucky for you, JT is playing two speaking roles in Theatrikos Theater Company's A Christmas Carol (adapted specifically for Theatrikos by Jan Rominger), which opened this weekend at the Doris Harper-White Playhouse.

 

Joe Maniglia and Jan Rominger co-direct this charming version of the holiday classic by Charles Dickens, which simply and directly tells the story of the redemption of a human soul. The play follows the ever-powerful story of miserly Ebeneezer Scrooge, a lonely miser, who, through the help of spirits and visions from his past, present and future, finds a second chance to become a loving, generous human being. With traditional carols and English folk tunes creating the proper atmosphere, the world of Scrooge, Fezziwig and Tiny Tim comes alive, igniting the holiday spirit for young and old alike.
 
First time Theatrikos actor, Rick Krug plays the bah humbugger. He is wonderfully hateful, destroying Christmas spirit everywhere. JT's daughter, Riley Johnson, makes her theatrical debut, too, as a street urchin, roaming the London streets and reeking havoc on grumpy Mr. Scrooge. She must get her acting chops from her father.

Then, the audience gets to watch Scrooge lighten with childish delight as the Ghost of Christmas Past (played by the lovely, haloed Alisa Davis) takes him to a Christmas party thrown by his old boss (played by my current boss, JT). Mr. Fezziwig is clad in a baby blue frock and a gold cravats and calf length trousers and tights, all custom made by Bracken Davis (she made ALL of the costumes. For 54 cast members. Woah!). His party is hoppin' - full of Christmas magic. As the FCP staff sat in the audience and partied with Mr. Fezziwig, we couldn't help but laugh along.
 
Scrooge is then visited by the Ghost of Christmas Present - played by a stilted, and very humorous, Scott Ballou - who takes Scrooge to the Crachit family's poor, but happy, dinner table. A lot of the Crachit family members are played by the Hansen family. This is the first time they've all been in the same show. Natalie plays Emily Crachit, brother Zack, 12 plays Peter Crachit, mom Tracie plays a London street vendor and her dad, Glenn Hansen, plays Bob Crachit.

When Scrooge meets the ominous, cloaked, and silent Ghost of Christmases Yet to Come, he sees his staff members selling his personal items to Old Joe, played by none other than John Tannous. He pays the women just a little bit extra, and cracks the audience up with his cockney accent (or is it hockney? The FCP staff debated on this). When Scrooge sees that no one mourns his death, he's finally scared straight into Christmas cheer. He wakes a changed man.

Merry Christmas, indeed.

If you go ....
What: "A Christmas Carol" at Theatrikos
When: Through Dec. 16: Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm; Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00pm
Where: Doris Harper-White Theater, 11 W. Cherry Ave., 774-1662
Tickets: All evening performances are $17; matinees are $15. Available online at https://theatrikos.secure.force.com/ticket or through the Box Office at 928-774-1662,  which is open from 1:00-6:00pm Tues, Thurs, Fri and two hours prior to each performance.