NCC puts new twist on a Dickens classic
Sometimes the message of good will during the holidays can become too sugary sweet, say actors in this year's "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol" at North Central College.
"It can really get cheesy," said Richard Gross, 31, of Chicago, who plays Jacob Marley. "It's easy to remove yourself from it."
The Organic Theater Company balances that out, cast members say, by bringing the audience a different spin on the old Charles Dickens classic that opens at 7:30 p.m. today at North Central's Meiley-Swallow Hall.
"It takes people to a different level of engagement - a level that is effective without being overly sentimental. That's rare to find these days," Gross said.
The Tom Mula tale switches the roles, putting Marley in a position where he needs to redeem Scrooge to redeem himself.
"Jacob Marley dies and is having to retrace his life and trying to find a way to redeem himself so he can go to the good place," Gelman said.
Marley turns his sights to Ebenezer Scrooge, who wronged him.
"If you can redeem the person who did you harm, that's the greatest accomplishment, isn't it?" Gelman said.
In its second year at the college, "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol" stays true to the Organic Theater Company's philosophy, said artistic director Alexander Gelman said.
That is, four actors play multiple characters and they create the environment, Gelman said. The set is a simple metal table and a set of chairs.
"Mostly the set is going to be created in the mind of the audience," Gross said.
For Marley's character, this version is less about things done to him and more about him earning his own redemption.
"It's a very smooth show," said Kristina Cottone, 21, of Chicago. "It's very easy to get wrapped up in the journey."
Cottone's character, the Bogle, is a raisin-sized sprite who serves as Marley's guide and who has an agenda of her own.
Both Marley and Cottone's Bogle go through a life-changing transformation during the production.
"It makes you examine the issue of how we treat each other and how we should treat each other," Gelman said. "And it's fun. It's funny, and it's brilliant. It's highly theatrical."
Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for students and seniors.
For information, call (630) 637-7469 or visit northcentralcollege.edu/show.
<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p> <p class="News"><b>What:</b> "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol" </p> <p class="News"><b>When:</b> 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10, 11 and 12; 2 p.m. Dec. 12 and 13 </p> <p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth St., Naperville </p> <p class="News"><b>Cost:</b> $30 adults, $20 students and seniors </p> <p class="News"><b>Info: </b>(630) 637-7469 or <a href="http://northcentralcollege.edu/show" target="new">northcentralcollege.edu/show</a> </p>