TERRIS THEATER TURNS A CHRISTMAS CAROL ALL CONNECTICUT

The Terris Theater in Chester is putting a unique new and spicy flavor to Dickens’ classic tale “A Christmas Carol” and turning it into a delightful story with a distinctly Connecticut taste: “A Connecticut Christmas Carol A New Musical.” Created by LJ Fecho for book and Michael O’Flaherty for music and lyrics, we still meet that old meanie Scrooge but now he is being enacted by Connecticut’s own actor of note William Gillette, who gifted the state with a castle that tourists enjoy as well as a long line of productions as that master detective Sherlock Holmes.

 

Until Sunday, December 30, the whole family is invited to enjoy Scrooge, a cantankerous and cranky Robert Cuccioli, as he “bah humbugs” his way through the holiday season, being ungenerous to his loyal employee Bob Cratchit, an even tempered and hard working family man Matt Gibson, and denying the kind invitations to holiday parties issued annually by his nephew, an open hearted Noah Plomgren.

 

It takes the visitation of three ghosts, in the person of favorite and not so favorite native sons, Benedict Arnold, P. T. Barnum and Mark Twain, all created with flair by Michael Thomas Holmes, to make Scrooge change from a man incapable of feeling joy to a redeemed gentlemen who experiences a renewed generosity in living and giving.

 Bob Crctchit’s family is the happy recipient of Scrooge’s largess, his wife Martha, Lee Harrington, his daughter Kathy, Daisy Wright, and most especially his son Tiny Tim, an adorableRobbie Berson.

 According to LJ Fecho from an interview last year, he called the show “awesome and a great experience. The director Hunter Foster is doing a great job directing, and Lisa Shriver is doing wonderful choreography. This is an interesting adaptation of an iconic work, We’ve set it in 1925 on the Goodspeed stage. Mr. Goodspeed has asked the famed Sherlock Holmes actor William Gillette, who lived in a castle near by, to play Scrooge in a final production of “A Christmas Carol” before the legendary theater closes its doors forever.”Fecho sincerely thanks the Internet that translated “into a million library books” and helped him create the huge historical figures who populate the story. The fact that they actually knew each other was a great bonus. Fecho discovered that Mark Twain loaned William Gillette $5000 to start his acting career and his company. 

The musical, rife with local geographic references, is a tale of good will and, ultimately, of good people. Scrooge experiences an epiphany and Fecho wants the audience to be surprised. He emphasizes that it is a very funny, light hearted musical, upbeat, and that Cuccioli is a great comedic actor. Working at the Goodspeed has been a wonderful experience with so many people and ideas who come together as one. He feels “blessed to be here.”

For tickets ($25-60), call the Goodspeed at 860-873-8668 or online at www.goodspeed.org. The production is at the Terris Theatre, 33 North Main Street, Chester. Performances are Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Coats are being collected to give to needy families. 

 
According to Fecho and O’Flaherty, “It’s our sincerest wish that you and all of Connecticut embrace our new version of “A Christmas Carol” in its second year that features this great state and the wonderful people in it as we hope you make this your newest holiday tradition.” Come with your family and make this a permanent present under your Christmas tree to enjoy again and again.