A Christmas Carol at Cultural Art Center in Glen Allen
He's been performing a one-homo reenactment of the Charles Dickens classic novella, "A Christmas Carol" for more than a decade, only Paul Morella wasn't the first guy to become on stage and play Ebenezer Scrooge, Jacob Marley, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim. Charles John Huffam Dickens was.
"Dickens loved the theatre," Morella explained. "He would have loved to have been an actor, simply he didn't think he had the skills." Not like Morella does. The veteran actor, whose unique retelling of "A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas" unspools in the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab at Olney Theatre Center through December. 29, has tackled roles on stage, on television and in movies, and his work as an offshoot professor at American Academy prepares future trial lawyers for the courtroom. He has researched Dickens, a prolific storyteller who lived in London from 1812 to 1870 and wrote scores of novels, novellas and short stories, and learned that while he was a pop live act, the author wasn't always a commanding presence.
"In fact, Mark Twain met the futurity Mrs. Samuel Clemens at a reading of 'A Christmas Carol,'" Morella explained. "Twain was such a fan of Dickens he wanted to see the man that created these characters — and he wrote how disappointed he was: no pathos, no emotional depth; his voice was a little squeaky and had no range, he was hamming information technology up."
Twain was extremely disappointed, even though he was thrilled to see the man who had created the characters that Victorian audiences adored. "His impression of Dickens was similar Shakespeare in some ways," laughed Morella. "'This is the guy that wrote all these great stories?'"
But he had, from "The Pickwick Papers," which began as a serial in 1936, to masterpieces similar "Dour Firm" and "Corking Expectations." The Victorian writer and social activist was wildly popular — Morella noted that Vincent Van Gogh was a big fan — and he did plow to interim one time he had plant success as an author.
Later "A Christmas Carol" was published in 1843, he decided to keep tour with it. "He'd read from 'A Christmas Carol' for clemency," said Morella, "and there was such a great response, it fed into his own theatrical passion. He idea, 'Maybe I'll exist able to read some of my other stories, maybe there's a market for this.' Tickets were sold, and it became very commercial for him, in addition to being something he actually enjoyed."
It was something audiences enjoyed, too — Mark Twain notwithstanding. "There are some people who would rave about his performances," said Morella. "And a lot of the people that would come knew the story and — about similar 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' — they would express joy, and they would cry, and they would fill in the blanks for certain words. Apparently, information technology was a fascinating experience."
Information technology still is, especially in the D.C. surface area, where Morella'south meticulously-staged version has been a tradition since 2008. "This will exist the 11th year, if y'all count that offset year at the Arts Barn. 10th year at Olney," said Morella.
How does he keep "A Christmas Carol" fresh year after year? "I will absorb anything and everything I can get my hands on, as far equally 'A Christmas Carol,'" said Morella. "I'll sentry movies: see the new stuff that'due south coming out and dig into the vault for the older classics; I'll listen to as many different recordings as I tin. I become like a sponge in that sense."
That means researching Dickens and his day, besides every bit watching a plethora of movie versions, from the 1938 MGM classic featuring Reginald Owen (Lionel Barrymore dropped out) to iterations starring Laurence Olivier, Orson Welles, even Mr. Magoo — and there'south a new BBC version coming just in time for Christmas 2019, with Tom Hardy and Andy Serkis.
Morella knows that many actors avert seeing and hearing other versions of a role, but he embraces the opportunity to get all in with this story. "Information technology's sort of like: the more than I can blot that world through unlike interpretations and perspectives, the more it will inform what I do," he mused. "So, it's very useful."
Morella manages, year later on yr, to turn the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab into an oasis of Victorian Christmas cheer — and fright. "A lot of people see the brighter aspects of 'A Christmas Carol,'" he conceded, "but it'due south subtitled 'A Ghost Story of Christmas.'"
And that's how information technology'south presented. After researching the story'south origins and the ideas that prompted Dickens to write it — think gremlins in a graveyard — Morella has tried to retain the gothic elements of the novella, noting that Dickens "would accept these long walks at night, past a graveyard, and think near what he was going to write."
Every bit a riff on the theme, Morella includes a period-authentic song sung past Tiny Tim that evokes William Wordsworth'south 1799 poem "Lucy Grayness." "'Lucy Grey' is a haunting poem about a young girl who goes into town from her family's home and gets lost," said Morella. "She dies. And when family members traverse the path, they hear her. It'due south one of those things that'southward uplifting, and it's horrifying."
And that's the dynamic he's meticulously crafted for "A Christmas Carol," somewhere between rejoicing in the mean solar day and acknowledging that "'we are all beau travelers to the grave.'
"We're all on this journey together."
The journey that's key to "A Christmas Ballad," of form, is that of the miser Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by 3 ghosts warning him to rethink his selfishness and turn over a new leaf. Morella tells the tale, playing 49 characters in the process and focusing on what he calls "that bond of humanity" that Dickens was so good at illustrating, "that idea that nosotros have to make the most of what we have right now.
"Information technology helps knowing that it'south going to end well," he added, "only it'south like a roller coaster ride that's thrilling, powerful and emotional."
And while every word (except for the Wordsworth poem sung past Tiny Tim) comes from the hand of Charles Dickens, Morella does mix information technology up from year to year, bringing in sure minor characters, relegating others to the shadows and exploring the depths of the Christmas classic.
"There are a couple of scenes I'd love to get in there that I haven't yet. That's part of the claiming," he said. "It'southward like finding a balance."
"A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas" runs through Dec.29 at Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Route, Olney. Performances showtime at 7:45 p.1000. Thursday through Saturday; three p.m. Sat and Sunday; there are boosted performances at 3 p.k. and vii:45 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23; 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 24 and Thursday, December. 26. Tickets range from $20 to $fifty. Telephone call 301-924-3400 or visit www.olneytheatre.org
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Source: https://www.culturespotmc.com/olney-theatre-center-presents-one-man-a-christmas-carol/
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