BIG NORTH C1
BIG NORTH FREE PRESS - DECEMBER 2012
DECEMBER 2012
Big North
Classifieds and Careers
C9-C10
C Section
FREE PRESS
■ JUDY RUSSELL PRODUCTION
A Christmas Carol a call to the past Familiar faces return to Prince George stage in Dickens’ classic TERESA MALLAM arts@pgfreepress.com
Charles’ Dickens’ timeless story of a selfish and miserly old grouch who sees the light before it’s too late after being visited by three ghosts is coming to the stage at the Prince George Playhouse in December. In many ways, Judy Russell’s latest production of the muchloved A Christmas Carol will be revisited with “voices from the past” as several cast members are actors who have not been on the musical theatre stage for years. For instance, Russell brought longtime Prince George actor Gary Chappel “out of hiding” and enticed him to play the lead role of Ebenezer Scrooge. “I’ve been trying to get Gary back on stage for years and this part was juicy enough to get this talented Josie Smith-trained actor to commit to treading the boards once again,” she said. “He is sure to delight the audience as he skilfully takes his well-known character through the journey of Christmas past, present and future.” Cindy Larsen Marcotte, who truly is a voice from Russell’s past, will portray Scrooge’s ghost (memories) of Christmas Past. “Cindy has not been in a major role since she played Peter in our production of the beloved musical Peter Pan in 2003. She dons an ethereal role as she gently guides Scrooge through his memories of Christmas Past,” said Russell. This seasonal play is also the first time Anna Russell will do the adaptation and direct a show in Prince George. Hailing from Saskatoon, Anna trained at the Canadian College of Performing Arts in Victoria. She worked as a professional actress and producer before moving to Prince George with her husband Matt Russell (Judy’s son), who manages the Prince George Playhouse. “After giving birth to a bouncing baby boy Henry, Anna has taken on this timeless classic with excitement and is working hard with her amateur cast of 50 local performers to bring joy to all this Christmas,” said Russell. There are also some newcomers to Russell’s theatrical team. The heartwarming and endear-
ing roles of Tiny Tim and Bob Cratchit are played by 12-yearold Cecil McCrae and Prince George Public Library librarian Jeff Kozoris. They are joined by well-known actors like Mark Wheeler. “Mark is wonderful, jolly and uplifting as Ghost of Christmas Present,” says Russell. “He truly embodies the richness of this role and is very believable as a character who manages through joy and misery to steer his reluctant student Scrooge towards a path of redemption.” Matt Russell is fulfilling a childhood dream in taking on the challenging role of Jacob Marley. “Matt loved watching his grandfather Alex Murry play this role and he grew up watching the classic movie version of A Christmas Carol every Christmas Eve.” The entire cast of Judy Russell’s production of A Christmas Carol is filled with longtime performers and young firsttime theatre enthusiasts. Old Joe is played by actor Phil Childs, who directed Prince George Theatre Workshop’s production of the musical version of A Christmas Carol titled The Stingiest Man in Town. “The performance took place at the Playhouse in 1972 and in that presentation, a very young Gary Chappel, who plays this production’s lead role was a young man in the chorus, and [TV personality] Catherine Hansen McCarthy was a little girl in the dancing scenes. Catherine, who has played many major roles, plays The Laundress and several bit parts in this production and she is enjoying having her little girl Sophie in some of the scenes with her.” They are joined by community players Dwight Wolfe, Beverly Smith, Jim Anderson, Kaye Trepanier, Lori Cruddas Neidermeyer, Krista Dunlop, Quin McGowan, lots of children and maybe even Judy Russell along with other talented performers will be taking the stage in this classic and timeless tale of Christmas long ago. Tickets for Judy Russell presents A Christmas Carol are on sale at Studio 2880. Doors open at 7 p.m. Curtain at 7:30 p.m. Two shows Saturday matinees, Te re s a M A LLA M / Fre e Pre s s doors open at 1:30 p.m. Curtain at 2 p.m. Dec. 14 and 15 and Matt Russell fulfills a childhood dream playing Jacob Marley in A Christmas Carol which runs at the Prince George Playhouse in December. Dec. 18 through 22.