With all the "bah humbug" going around before finals, No Refund Theatre helps to get students in the holiday spirit with their rendition of a Christmas classic.
"A Christmas Carol," a play that has been adapted by many since it was first written by Charles Dickens in 1843, will take the stage at 8 tonight in 111 Forum Building and at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday.
Co-director Jim Dickey adapted the original novel himself and said that he did so with NRT in mind -- thinking of what would work best with the club's capabilities.
A great deal of the production is word-for-word from the original text, Dickey, Class of 2010, said.
The cast of 18 auditioned at the end of September and has been rehearsing since then, with the help of seven crewmembers -- which includes other Co-director Christina Sharkey.
Max Simone, president of No Refund Theatre, plays Ebenezer Scrooge in the production and said that it is a straightforward, classic rendition.
Simone (senior-English and film) said that creating this production seemed like a "no-brainer" because of how close it is to Christmas.
"We've had a lot of time for this... it's a show I'm very proud of," he said.
In the classic tale, Ebenezer Scrooge is a miserable old man who hates Christmas and is visited by his seven-years-dead friend Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come.
Scrooge's employer, Bob Cratchit, is played by Dustin Yenser.
[Cratchit] tries to keep positive, though he is very poor and his child, Tiny Tim, suffers from health problems, Yenser, Class of 2007, said.
The faithful adaptation, Yenser said, only has one change from the original source novel: the ghost of Jacob Marley also acts as narrator.
"A Christmas Carol," though a drama, has some comedic elements in this version, Yenser said, which consists of making fun of Scrooge and his inability to have any joy in his life.
Yenser said that the production will come alive through an interesting set, which will feature a stage divided by "some really rich looking red velvet curtains," that will close to show the different time periods.
The lighting, done by Jake Van Bramer, will play a large part in this.
The show features lighting, which will mimic the time. For example, the future is done with darker lighting because the future, for Scrooge, is more dark and depressing, Yenser said.
The play is free to the public and will run in two acts, with one intermission.
"I love the story. The characters are larger than life and everyone knows the story," Dickey said.
The show will be the last for NRT's fall season, which has put on eight productions this year; a small number compared to the club's normal 12 shows, Dickey said.
The show features some NRT veterans. It is a "nice mix between people who have been around, but also some freshmen and community members," he said.
Dickey, who has directed NRT shows over the last few years, said that students looking for something to get them in the Christmas spirit should come see the show.
"There's no better way," he said.
