“Audience Delights in Radio Play”

A Christmas Carol
Presented by the Headwaters Council for the
Performing Arts
By Barbara W. Wilkinson

Kudos to Bernie Hupperts and the Northwoods Community Theater for the outstanding production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol: The Radio Play,” Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Northland Pines High School auditorium.

Sponsored by the Headwaters Council for the Performing Arts, they presented the story in a convincing, fluid radio-style fashion. The cast provided the audience with a sprightly dialogue, cleverly melding the broad humor with the poignant message of the season. While keeping the quaintness of Dickens’ original masterwork intact, the tale never slid into sentimentality.

The fine Northwoods Community Chorus, directed by veteran Steve Kolling and accompanied by skillful pianist Linda Brainard, along with two lively quartets, provided smooth scene transitions and added a joyful Christmas touch to the production.

In addition, the talented Northwoods Community Orchestra, under the skillful direction of Brandon Bautz, played throughout the evening, including the intermission. A stage-full of early 19th-century-attired characters rounded out the cast and skillfully gave the production a sense of unity.

Completing the radio play were the necessary interruptions advertising its sponsors. The audience felt as though it were nestling up to a cozy fire listening to the radio on a cold winter evening.

At center stage was popular actor Fred Lippert as Scrooge, who easily portrayed Dickens’ protagonist as miserly and wretched, triggering fear in everyone with whom he associated. From his first appearance, dressed in the somber attire of Dickens’ time, hunchbacked and staring defiantly at everyone around him, Lippert gave the audience a frightening portrait of a mean, crotchety old man.

Whether he growled out “humbug” or contemptuously mocked and demeaned others, Lippert gave us a Scrooge we loved to hate. While the audience never learned why Scrooge was so nasty, it was obvious that, through some ghostly visits, even one so hardened as he can ultimately be changed.

After a quick transformation into his nightshirt and cap, Scrooge became more vulnerable in his lonely existence. The audience loved hearing his fearful cries as the three apparitions appeared.

Frisk Miller gave an outstanding reading as the Ghost of Christmas Past. Clad in a white gown with a hood covering her head and face, she was indeed compelling as she produced memories of Scrooge’s past. Lippert’s reaction to them was a convincing horror.

Later, as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Glenn Svetnicka was a dominant specter, complete with cape and crown of greens, truly fearsome in his depiction. Taking a quaking Scrooge to eavesdrop on Bob Cratchett’s family, the apparition enlightened him to the love and happiness they had for one another even in their poverty. Scrooge was truly awestruck.

Lastly, clad in an ethereal black shroud, Dave Zick was gripping as the Ghost of Christmas Future, quickly terrifying Scrooge enough that he was afraid to look upon him. Lippert easily convinced the audience that his Scrooge had been through enough as he cried, “I am not the man I was! I will change!”

Luciano Svetnicka adeptly captured the full essence of Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchett’s lovable crippled child, and, with just a few poignant lines, brought the meaning of the story to light. His “God bless us, everyone” was very persuasive.

The stage effects were compellingly authentic; a table of props was provided just for that purpose. Whether it was a squeaking door, the eerie clanging of chains or a fog machine, the ambiance was truly Dickens’ 19th-century London in winter.

The poignant message of the Dickens’ masterpiece reminds one of the redemptive power of joy and love at Christmas. Leaving the theater, the audience could not help but feel uplifted. In following Scrooge’s journey back to the human fold, we were reminded of the ties that bind us not only to our own families, but to the human family as well.