THEATRE

    A Christmas Carol

    A Christmas Carol Image gallery

    Presented by Theatre Memphis at Theatre Memphis

    December 4-December 23, 2009

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    Not part of the season subscription. Based on the novel by Charles Dickens Directed by Jason Spitzer A family tradition in Memphis. Ebenezer Scrooge is approached by the ghostly vision of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, and sets out on a journey of exploration that ultimately results in Scrooge's enlightenment. The soul of a miser and the life of a young boy , both are saved in this perennial Dickens holiday favorite.

    Additional performance, Tuesday, 12/22/09 @ 7pm.
    Not part of the season subscription.

    Once Up Under a Mattress
    By Randall Hartzog
    For almost 20 years John Scott, Jr. has taken his place in A Christmas Carol at Theatre Memphis and he has never been seen … until the show is over. That’s because he is eyes, ears and arms and legs of “The Bed” that is featured in the Charles Jones adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic that has been performed now at Theatre Memphis for over 30 years. With almost 300 performances quite literally under his belt, it is no wonder that he takes the job seriously.
    Every year whoever directs A Christmas Carol at Theatre Memphis puts their own twist to the script. Making changes or adding hymns, carols or even strolling characters to the show is a regular occurrence. The constant for the past two decades, however, has been Scott. The director for this year and last year, Jason Spitzer, knew from the beginning that the bed role had been pre-cast. “It is not just the kind of role anyone can do. As a matter of fact I was relieved to know that John was coming back,” Spitzer said. The physical aspect to move a massive, four-poster bed, fully dressed with drapes and dust ruffles, is quite challenging. To make the bed look like it is moving effortlessly requires a harness system that Scott helped develop. “I realized after the first couple of years of doing it that there had to be a better way. The first year I couldn’t even get out of the harness at intermission once. It was just cumbersome,” Scott says. Now with the improved system in place he says it is more like muscle memory than work. “I don’t even think about it.”
    Even though Scott started as “The Bed” at age 22 with a “heavy” Scrooge, he says his youth and adrenaline took over and it was not a particular physical challenge. Some 20 years later he may feel the pain of the strenuous activity but the fact is that he still gets a thrill from being a part of the ACC family at Theatre Memphis and that is what keeps him pumped up and coming back each year.
    When he first auditioned for A Christmas Carol for director Barry Fuller in 1990 he had not seen A Christmas Carol or been in any stage production at all. He and a friend had auditioned at Theatre Memphis for the show prior to A Christmas Carol that year (The Sound of Music) and his friend got a callback. As fate would have it that friend had been a MidSouth Fair talent winner that same year and was called to Nashville to record Christian music, leaving Scott behind. But Scott never forgot the pledge to one another to continue to audition, to learn and to experience stage performing. He recalls, “I remember thinking my audition was okay but not knowing if I really did well. I was on my way home from the audition and decided to turn around, go back, and just ask what I needed to do to get in a show, to learn. David Allen was running the audition process and was still there with Barry when I got there. I asked David what to do and surprisingly he just said, ‘Do you want to be the bed?’ I said, ‘Does that mean I get to be in the show?’ and we walked back to Barry who said ‘sure’ too and I haven’t missed a year since.”
    Nor has he missed a chance to play other characters. When not spider-walking under the four-poster during the show, he also has played other supporting roles. This year his other role will be Topper, a friend to the nephew of Scrooge. But in other years he has been the Toymaker, Charity Man, Lamplighter and Fezziwig in the daytime version that performs for school groups. It keeps him well occupied to be the other characters and loves the variety. “The Bed”, though special to him, is magic to others. “Every year,” he continues, “ people come up to me and say, ‘So you’re the guy that controls the pullies’ or ‘where are the ropes?’ Apparently it is really something special to watch. I really don’t get it. I guess because I’ve never seen it.”
    Scott is very direct about his approach to his annual role. “It’s like a civic duty now. I look forward to it every year and have even rearranged jobs to be able to do it,” he says. He also is humble about the fact that people think his role is so special. Being interviewed for the publicity around the 20 years of his involvement he states of the attention, “ I’m a little embarrassed by it. I do it because I love it.” Always thinking of the best for the show he turns the conversation to the production and adds, “But I am glad we have new casters. They help a lot.”
     

     


    • At-a-
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      • Venue Info

        Theatre Memphis

        630 Perkins Ext
        Memphis, TN 38117

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      • Admission Info

        Tickets: Not part of the season subscription $28 adult $15 student with valid ID $10 under 12 Season members get $5 off adult tickets.

        Info Phone: 901.682.8323

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      • Dates & Times

        Dates:
        December 4-December 23, 2009

        Times:
        7pm for all evening performances Wed - Sat, 2pm Sun matinee
        Additional performance, Tuesday, 12/22/09 @ 7pm.
        Not part of the season subscription.

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        • Event Name: A Christmas Carol
          "Review by Dorothy Kirsch - ArtsMemphis Rants & Raver"
          Comment posted by: Dorothy Kirsch - ArtsMemphis Rants & Raver from Memphis, TN, Dec 11, 2009

          A CHRISTMAS CAROL AT THEATRE MEMPHIS IS A HOLIDAY TREAT WITH A LARGE WELL COSTUMED AND STAGED CAST. JAMES DALE GREEN AS SCROOGE IS A PROPER GROUCH. MARK W. REID IS A REMARKABLE BOB CRATCHIT, ABLY... Expand

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      Reviews

      • Member Reviews

        Add review/comment

        • Event Name: A Christmas Carol
          "Review by Dorothy Kirsch - ArtsMemphis Rants & Raver"
          Comment posted by: Dorothy Kirsch - ArtsMemphis Rants & Raver from Memphis, TN, Dec 11, 2009

          A CHRISTMAS CAROL AT THEATRE MEMPHIS IS A HOLIDAY TREAT WITH A LARGE WELL COSTUMED AND STAGED CAST. JAMES DALE GREEN AS SCROOGE IS A PROPER GROUCH. MARK W. REID IS A REMARKABLE BOB CRATCHIT, ABLY... Expand

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