Valley actors bring ‘A Christmas Carol’ to life

As snow lightly falls upon the Valley, so does the magic of Christmas spirit. ’Tis the season for a classic!

It seems “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens has been portrayed in every way imaginable. However, if you read the book you’ll know that it is hard to find such a traditional version as performed by Valley Performing Arts.

Jack Foster, director of the play, said he chose a unique view on the production based on John Jakes’ take on the tale “because it presents a unique angle — the author actually performing and reading of his story.”

Dickens himself reads you one of his most popular fictions and even participates in the performance. John Fremin, who plays Dickens, offers an extraordinary presentation of one of our favorite holiday traditions as he reads and interacts with the characters.

As the audience is brought back in time into such a familiar story it is easy to compare our favorite characters with those acting on Family Network or the Hallmark Channel. Unfortunately for the big TV programs, those movies have nothing on the actors and actresses of Valley Performing Art. Kevin Cochran displays the ideal Ebenezer Scrooge with his character’s rotten attitude polluting his neighbors and coworkers, his frightening experiences with the unwelcomed spirits of Christmas past, present and future, and the heartwarming transformation he finally makes at the end of the play.

I could go on and on about such wonderful actors making one my favorite stories come to life: sweet Belle, played by Greta Kopperud; Ebenezer, Bobby and Old Joe, all played by Johnny Foster; the kind Bob Cratchit played by Theron Bair; and of course, courageous Tiny Tim, played by Andrew Mattson. But I would like to single out Hannah Rodolph, who gave an outstanding performance as Fan, Ebenezer’s sister.

I have to say that there is nothing like watching a classic live on stage. If nothing else, the play definitely gets you in the merry spirit of Christmas. I would not expect less from the VPA. The play’s large crew and even larger cast came together to produce a timeless classic everyone can appreciate and love.

Ahriel Porter is a currently enrolled at Mat-Su Community College perusing studies in physical education. Her current passion is assisting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society with its fundraising. She will run a marathon this month in Hawaii to support the organization.