Seeing Ghosts
The tradition continues as Hobnob Theatre Company produces the holiday classic “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens in December.
Hobnob's Liz Smith is directing.
“This show has the reputation already of being performed at Christmas each year by a specific theater company. We love to be able to provide Butler with this new Christmas tradition,” Smith said.
“There is always a challenge in filling a large cast year after year. It's always great to have returning actors as well as new actors show up at the auditions,” she said. “We have new actors in some of the principal parts: Scrooge, Ghost of Past, Ghost of Present and Mr. Fezziwig.”
The lead role of Ebenezer Scrooge will be played by Butler's Thom Hilliard who will appear for the first time in the show.
Hilliard believes his understanding of Scrooge lends to the credibility of his performance.
“The ability to understand the character's many faults is one of the strengths I bring to this show,” Hilliard said.
“And I do an accent fairly well,” he added.
Hilliard said he had seen the show last year and enjoyed it immensely, so when presented with the opportunity to play Scrooge, he was delighted.
Preparing for the show involved counting both blessings and memories.
“I just remembered the things I have always enjoyed about this time of year, going back as far as I can remember,” Hilliard said.
He said his biggest concern is doing the character justice. He last appeared in the Hobnob Theatre production of “Tales of the Grotesque.”
Scrooge's protégé, Bob Cratchit is played by Aaron Zimmerman of New Brighton, Beaver County, who is reprising the role.
The 33-year-old is no stranger to the stage and has appeared in a variety of local productions as well as this production last year.
“I find it is challenging to portray an iconic character like Bob Cratchit. To play him in a way people are familiar with watching all the versions, but also to play him in a way that is not just copying what someone already did,” Zimmerman said.
Smith wants this to be more than a show for the community.
“The performance is a Christmas experience,” she said. “From the moment you walk into the lovely decorated lobby and house/stage area, to warm beverages, wassail or coffee and fancy cookies, to the strolling carolers as you wait for the curtain to open.
“It's still the cheapest theater ticket in town at $10 for adults and $5 for kids 10 and under,” she added.
Curtain is at 8 p.m. Dec. 19 and 20 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 21 at the Succop Theater at Butler County Community College.
<B>WHO:</B> Hobnob Theatre Company<B>WHAT: </B>Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”<B>WHEN: </B>8 p.m. Dec. 19 and 20 and 2 p.m. Dec. 21<B>WHERE: </B>Succop Theater at Butler County Community College<B>TICKETS: </B>$10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger, available at www.hobnobtheatre.com/tickets or May’s Music Shoppe. If available, tickets will be sold at the door one hour before curtain.
