What would a traditional Christmas story look like with a wrinkle to the plot?
Well, the novel turned play turned movie winds up as a unique, fun and very entertaining yet twisted play.
St. Augustine School’s high school drama program performed A 21st Century Christmas Carol, a modernized adaptation of the Charles Dickens’ story, in front of an audience in the school’s gym on Dec. 20 and 22.
“It’s a Christmas Carol with a gender reversal and placed in more modern times,” explained Nicole Josephison, drama and art teacher.
“It’s got all of the same type of characters, but is a fun, modern language take on it that occurs in a mall.”
This updated version features Eleanor Scrooge as the miserly, bah humbug, owner of a mall art gallery. As in the original, Scrooge — played by Lyrra Matira — goes through the three phases of past, present and future and eventually winds up turning her attitude around.
However, in this version Mr. Marley — the former owner of the gallery who employed Scrooge — appears as a ghost after dying recently and known more for being a bitter, money hungry, slave driver. Marley, played by Dylan Giles, also gets to have some fun as he constantly wanders through every scene with some hilarious antics.
Josephison stated that the drama program has become so popular at the school that there will be two productions this year as opposed to one. This play will finish off the first semester, while another class next semester will perform the musical Beauty and the Beast Junior.
“I’ve been so blessed with such a talented group for this production,” Josephison added.
“The set and the artwork was done by the CTS (Career and Technology Studies) students and the majority of the technical/make-up crew are students. Plus, the help with the costumes and designing them from Dayna Wittal (another St. Augustine teacher) was wonderful.
“The fact that we had so many that wanted to take drama this year that we had to offer it in both semesters is excellent to see and it’s great that we are able to keep building the program.”
She also stated it’s the great support of the arts from principal Kevin Prediger that makes this growth possible.
