By Kevin Coughlin
If you’re planning on catching A Christmas Carol at Morristown High School this weekend, here are few tips:
- Sit on the right side of the stage if you can. A lot of razzle-dazzle happens there.
- Arrive early. This show should pack ’em in.
- Bring Kleenex.
Yes, you’ve seen A Christmas Carol a million times. Doesn’t matter. This production–the most ambitious, cinematic one we’ve seen at MHS in years–will yank your heartstrings.
A dress rehearsal this week earned a standing ovation from the toughest audience anywhere–Morristown senior citizens–and left a supposedly hard-boiled blogger looking more like a runny egg.
Photo slideshow by Kevin Coughlin
There’s plenty of Dickensian fun along the way. Nik Slackman’s Scrooge is part Captain Ahab, part Mr. Hyde.
The ghosts are a gas. Allie Fielding taps her inner Good Witch as the Spirit of Christmas Past. Alexanda Monfalcone and Anna Skelton sprinkle some fairy dust on Christmas Present, while Liam Mejia handles the heavy lifting–in chains as Jacob Marley, and as a truly monstrous Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come.
And look for big things in Tiny Tim’s future. Or at least, in Christopher “Topher” Bashant’s.
But the real stars in this adaptation are the crew members.
They have erected impressive sets, which they spend two hours frantically moving hither and yon. Beds, tables and chairs vanish and re-appear. There are bridges, and trap doors.
The Morris School District could have saved a bundle by hiring these kids to do the high school expansion.
New director Michael Maguire has aimed high with A Christmas Carol. As our MHS correspondents Kirsten Traudt (who appears in the play as a Victorian narrator) and Rachel Prusso have noted, this show includes new lighting, spooky sound effects, fog, and even a snowstorm.
The play turns on a much simpler prop, however.
We’ll just leave it there.
God bless us, everyone. And pass the Kleenex.
MORE ABOUT ‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’
A Christmas Carol
Morrristown High School, 50 Early St.
Friday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, Dec. 6 at 2 PM.
Tickets: $6-$12 at MHS.Booktix.com
I had the privilege of watching this show yesterday. It was absolutely perfect. Thanks especially to Mr. Maguire for the tremendous amount of hard work and long hours he dedicates to this production and to the students. Both backstage and on stage, he encourages the kids to do their best, resulting in a stunning production. Very well done.
LOVE THE PHOTOS!!! THANKS KEVIN!!! See everyone at MHS tonight! I promise it’s worth the trip.