A Bradford Little Theatre cast has been hard at work rehearsing for the past month, preparing to retell a greatly-revered Christmas tale, with a fresh twist, in their performances slated for the end of this week in Bradford.
The show, “A Christmas Carol — A Live Radio Play,” will be presented as an old time radio show and will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Togi’s Playhouse on 18 Welch Ave.
The play was adapted from the Dickens’ classic by local playwright Caleb Combs. He will also be serving as the director of the show, making his directorial debut for BLT.
“Auditions went really well, with ample choice of talent. I’ve had a great time working with this extremely talented and experienced cast, who are exactly right where they need to be in relation to their characters,” Combs stated.
The idea of the show is to bring Charles Dickens’ beloved classic to life in the style of old time radio theatre. Which means there will be no flashy costumes, no big sets, no special effects — just actors with scripts in their hands, standing at microphones, performing mainly with their voices. It also means live sound effects, created as the audience watches the show.
“Figuring out the different sound effects for the show has been nothing short of interesting,” recounted Combs. “We intend to use lighting techniques and some differing costume elements to make the show visually interesting, but the main focus will be on the story and the characters.”
A handful of actors will take on multiple characters to tell the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a stubborn old miser in desperate need of a dose of Christmas spirit. Three ghosts whisk him away on an adventure through the past, present, and future to convince him to change his ways before it’s too late.
Cost for the show is $10 per ticket for adults and $8 for students and seniors. Tickets may be purchased prior to the show at Graham Florist and Togi’s Restaurant. They will also be available at the door, which will open thirty minutes prior to the show.
According to Combs, patrons interested in attending the show can expect “a familiar story to be told in a pretty unfamiliar manner to modern times. I believe there is a reason that Dickens’ story has lasted this long and anyone in attendance will get the story they have come to know and love with a couple twists to the presentation.”
For more information pertaining to Bradford Little Theatre or the upcoming production visit the Bradford Little Theatre Facebook page or visit the website at http://www.bradfordlittletheatre.org
