**** Recommended The Dickens’ Christmas Carol Dinner Show is a somewhat abridged, totally schmaltzy, retelling of the Dickens classic. Originally adapted into a radio-style script by Philip Potempa it was CVPA’s first post-Covid show, transferred to the stage in 2022 and restaged in 2024. New this year – an abridged children’s version. 3 1/2 Spotlights
The three-person cast, Philip Potempa, Cara Schmitt and Tony Panek, play all the parts. Panek is also the Foley (sound effects) artist, using various everyday objects to provide background noises, even in some cases using equipment devised and built on the farm by Phil’s dad, Chester Potempa.
Cara Schmitt opens the show with the first sentence in Dickens’ book, “Marley was dead,” and continued on to conclude that he’d been dead these seven years. From then on, she provided narration.
At a desk at center stage, Scrooge (Potempa) worked in his counting house, at least until he was interrupted by a visit from his nephew Fred (Panek) followed by a woman (Schmitt) collecting donations for the poor. Switching scarves, Potempa also played Bob Cratchit.
Scrooge stopped in a tavern for dinner – and the man has no table manners – then made his way home. When his door knocker looked a bit odd, he decided it was just a bit of indigestion and headed for bed. Just climbing into his curtained four-poster bed had curtains, he was interrupted by a ghost, who turned out to be his late partner, Jacob Marley. Potempa played both parts – switching between Scrooge – nightcap – and Marley – burdened with chains, cashbox and ledgers and a band around his face.
When the clock chimed one, the Ghost of Christmas Past (Schmitt) with a wreathe on her head and a sparkling wand in her hand, woke Scrooge. She escorted him back to his school days – where she became his sister, Fan – and his apprenticeship with the Fezziwig’s where she played his betrothed, Belle.
The Ghost of Christmas Present (Panek) wore a top hat trimmed with Christmas garland as he escorted Scrooge to the Cratchit home where Bob (Potempa), Martha (Schmitt) and Tiny Tim (Panek) had a meal.
You'll have to see the show to see the creepy Ghost of Christmas Future.
The Dickens’ Christmas Carol Dinner Show runs through December 15th at Theatre at the Center, Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster. Parking is free. Running time is approximately 70 minutes with an intermission.
Tickets: Show only $35. FYI (219) 836-3255 or www.TheatreAtTheCenter.com.
Additional dinner option $30 plus gratuity. For reservations, call 10Forty Catering (219) 836-1930 ext. 2