Mundelein church to stage Dickens' classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge
This weekend, the sanctuary within St. Andrew's Lutheran Church will transform into a theater.
The church's Beginnings Drama Team will debut its first full-length show, "A Christmas Carol" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12 and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. The church is at 10 S. Lake St., Mundelein.
Since John and Wendi Kelly of Grayslake took over the Beginnings, they have performed excerpts from dramas as part of church services. But John Kelly said it has been their vision for the past year to put together a full-length show.
"To see this transform into a counting house and sitting room is a thrill, to see the reality of it all," John Kelly said.
The Kellys are not new to community theater, as both have performed with the Kirk Players for decades. Other team members such as Chris Markgraf also have performed with the Mundelein troupe. But Markgraf said there also are cast members who never have stepped onto a stage.
"A lot of people are acting in their first show and are being given a terrific opportunity to give back to the church and to the community," he said.
Wendi Kelly said it is rewarding to bring theater to the church because of the messages within the stories. And Charles Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol" has such an impact, speaking about charity and kindness to fellow man.
"There can't be any better place to put that on than a church," she said.
To play Scrooge, Wendi Kelly asked fellow Kirk Player Tom Koch to take the part. Koch said Scrooge is a challenge to play not only to speak in Dickens' language but also to follow Scrooge as he takes steps forward but also falls back in his ways.
The story profiles a young Scrooge, played by Michael Zimmermann, who falls in love with Belle, played by Claire Sural of Libertyville. Zimmermann said it is when Belle leaves him that Scrooge's life begins to turn darker.
Working for elder Scrooge is Bob Cratchit, played by Markgraf. Anita Pahlman of Druce Lake plays Mrs. Cratchit; Elizabeth and Michael Zimmermann play siblings Belinda and Peter; and Ethan Kofman of Mundelein as Tiny Tim Cratchit.
It is the ghost of Marley, played by John Kelly, who first visits Scrooge on this night to redemption. He is then visited by three spirits. They are the ghost of Christmas past, played by Sue Markgraf of Mundelein; ghost of Christmas present, played by Tania Lynn of Grayslake; and ghost of Christmas future, played by Al Hitzke of Mundelein.
Koch said in the end, Scrooge shows if he can change, anyone can.
"If there can be hope for Scrooge, there can be hope for anybody," said Koch, of Vernon Hills. "He finds the error of his ways. He is able to turn it around."
Tickets cost $12 for adults and $8 for children and seniors. Proceeds will benefit church programming. Bring canned goods to benefit the COOL Food Pantry and Transitional Housing in Waukegan. Call (847) 548-2760 or visit the Web at standrewmundelein.org for details.