THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 24, 1994 TAG: 9411220184
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
NOW THAT THE TURKEY is in the oven (or eaten) and people are getting into the holiday spirit, along comes Lindale Church of Christ with one of the better seasonal productions of the year.
It's the second year that the church has produced ``Scrooge,'' based on ``The Stingiest Man In Town,'' a 1930s musical by Janice Torres and Fred Spielman.
All that remains of this rather obscure musical is an animated Christmas special on television under its original name and retyped copies of its music, songs and dialogue, saved from extinction by the production's director Nancy D. Bateman, also director of the church's youth Reflections choir.
Bateman said she loves the musical's classy Broadway-like songs and melodies and, ironically enough, her husband, Joe Bateman, was part of its cast when it was staged at Chrysler Hall years ago when he was 12.
Last year's premier production went by its original title, but this year Bateman decided to change its name to ``Scrooge,'' to make it instantly recognizable to the public and to highlight the fact that changes have been made.
``We've changed it some, and now made it our own,'' Bateman said. ``And then I watched a 1938 British film version of `Christmas Carol' on the A & E cable network a while back and borrowed some dialogue from it and added it to the script. It was good, Christian-oriented dialogue.''
Whatever the minor changes, Bateman promises this year's production will be just as successful and popular as last year's.
``We had packed houses for all the performances,'' Bateman said. ``People went nuts over it. One lady got mad because she wanted to come back the next evening, bring some friends and see it again, and it was our last night. Another lady hugged me and wouldn't let go. She was crying.''
The cast will feature 23 youngsters and 22 adults, all volunteer performers from the church's congregation. In fact, the whole production will cost the church, and the public, absolutely nothing. Everything, from the scenery and technical help to the backing music and performers, is done by volunteers. And admission to the show is free.
``The whole play is done as a donation to the church and the community,'' Bateman said. ``Everybody is volunteering time, expertise and talents. We even have production and stage equipment and assistance donated to us, in the real spirit of the season.''
All the music, sound effects and embellishments will be provided by Martha McConchie on a slick high-tech KORG keyboard.
This year's cast mainly will feature last year's performers repeating their roles, including Joe Bateman as Scrooge, Nancy Bateman as Belle, Frank Fortuna as Bob Cratchit, Keith Poindexter as Fred, David Bauer as Jacob Marley, Brenda and Clarence Swanner as Mr. and Mrs. Fizziwig, Marlene Viola as Mrs. Dilber, Adele Farmer as the Ghost of Christmas Past, along with newcomers Josh Henderson as Tiny Tim, Stacie Farmer as the Ghost of Christmas Present and Beth Swanner as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
Bateman said she didn't, and wouldn't dare, alter last year's beggar scene with Jim Stewart, Jay Woolford and Jim Spruill.
``That scene is back by popular demand,'' Bateman said. ``They were the comedy relief of the show, and the audience loved them. They had raggedy clothes, blacked out teeth, beards and looked like bums. Everybody in the audience cracked up when they were on stage.''
New additions to the production will feature a special platform on the stage with a huge Christmas tree, where the toys, played by youngsters in the cast, come to life and a big 16-foot mock poultry shop.
Bateman said last year's production played to full houses and expects the same next week.
``We were packed. If the same thing happens and we have overflow, we can easily set up more chairs,'' she said. ``We can get quite a few people in our church auditorium.''
Bateman said she's seen many seasonal productions around the area over the years and would pit this one against any of them.
``I think were just as polished as any good amateur theater in the area,'' she said. ``It's sure to put everybody in the Christmas mood.'' ILLUSTRATION: AT A GLANCE
What: ``Scrooge'' (``The Stingiest Man in Town'')
When: 7 p.m. Dec. 2 and 4. A reception will follow each
production.
Where: The Lindale Church of Christ, 1119 Lindale Ave.
Who: Volunteers from the church congregation.
Cost: Free. No tickets or reservations are necessary.
Information: Call the church office at 547-1282 from 10 a.m. to 1
p.m. Monday through Friday.
by CNB