Talking About "Christmas Carol"

As promised, here's our interview with Mary Smirl, the director of 5th Avenue Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol: The Musical, which starts this Friday at Huntington's City Hall auditorium.

Q: Why did you decide to tackle Fifth Avenue's A Christmas Carol: the Musical?

A: I directed A Christmas Carol for 5th Ave. Theatre last year and had such an amazing experience that when they asked me to do it again I had no choice but to accept.

Q: The cast is a bit different this year - how does that change things?

A: This year's cast is different but the same if you will. It is as if we took all the folks from last year and rotated them around a bit, adding a new actor here and there. Last year's Bob Crachit is this year's Ghost of Present, our last year's Ghost of Present is this year's Marley, and our last year's Marley is this year's Bob Crachit! We have last year's Mr.Fezziwig playing Scrooge and last year's Mrs. Crachit playing Mrs. Fezziwig, so you can see much of the cast is seasoned and familiar with the show. I wanted one thing only and that was with a new actor - Clint McElroy - playing Scrooge, we would have different ghosts play off of him, I felt this was very important for the whole dynamic. We do have some new faces this year bringing the excitement of a first time run to the production as we help make the local talent pool of experienced actors expand. I would say that every one of them is bitten by the bug and we both know that is a good thing. We have the multi-talented Lara Donahoe returning as our vocal director but we could not have gotten this far without the help of Ron Short and Eddie Harbet to get us started.

Q: You've done choreography for lots of shows, but for this one you have someone else teaching it - is that difficult for you?

A: The dance in this show is amazing, it moves all over the place all the time, thanks to our new Choreographer Miss Tiff McCullagh. As a choreographer myself I thought it would be tough to let go of the dance, this music is so much fun that it is hard not to want to jump in and begin creating! I have found that, to my surprise, as much as I love to dance and create dance, I absolutely adore the directing aspect of the process. It is a real treat as well as an education for me to see how the music motivates another's perception of the dance. Tiff teaches at my studio and we are very much in sync, she is the only other choreographer I know that uses tiny "post its" onstage when teaching, she is a very good instructor and a beautiful dancer as well.

Q: Why is "Christmas Carol" such an enduring classic?

A: I feel very blessed to be able to direct a retelling of this classic story of love and redemption. My first time to help direct a Children's Theatre show was this very story, with my dear friend Jim Stone playing Scrooge, it was then, and is still a real treasure. This story reminds us all to dig down deep and find our ability to be tolerant and find compassion for others. The most beautiful song in the show and the number that will brings tears to the eyes of the "scroogiest of scrooges" has a string of little angels coming down the center isle with candles singing "Let The Stars In The Sky, Remind Us Of Man's Compassion, let us love till we die and GOD BLESS US EVERYONE, till each child is fed, till each man is free".... I can't think of a better message for a better time than this.

Q: Why would you urge people to come out and see this show?

A: I urge everyone to come out and see this show, it is filled with love and laughter and the cast will pull you in as they walk all over the fourth wall shaking hands and singing as they go. You will laugh, you will cry and you will be filled with The Christmas Spirit as you go on the journey with Scrooge while he learns the lesson we all need to embrace, time is short, make the most of every precious moment!

Q: What are the dates and times for the show?

A: We open on the 30th of November and have shows on the 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th, and 9th, with a school show on the 6th. Sunday shows start at 2:00 p.m., evening show at 7:30 p.m. One last thing, this year we have a new Pre-Show, with 35 little ones from around the area singing and dancing to your delight! The show is directed by new comers, Wendy Goodenough, Amy Coughenhour, and Sara Dick. COME SEE US!!!!!