**** Recommended **** After more than two years it was a joy to be back in the Theatre at the Center for the Dickens’ Christmas Carol Dinner Show. The Dickens’ classic was adapted into a radio-style script by Philip Potempa, who actually organized several dinner shows after the Covid shutdown. Those shows were in the CVPA dining room. This is the first to be back on stage in the theater – with scenery! 4 Spotlights
Although this script was written for radio, the cast, Philip Potempa, Jeannie Rapstad and Tony Panek, are mostly off-book (theater term for memorized script. Panek provided sound effects – using some equipment devise and built by Chester Potempa.
Sitting at a desk on the left, Rapstad 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, Rapstad provided narration.
At another desk at center stage, Potempa played Scrooge in his counting house, as he was bothered by a visit from his nephew Fred (Panek) as well as an individual collecting donations for the poor. Switching scarves, Potempa also played Bob Cratchit.
Scrooge’s bedroom, complete with four-poster bed, was located at the rear of the stage. Before he could go to bed, Scrooge was visited by a ghost. Burdened with chains, who turned out to be his late partner, Jacob Marley. Potempa played both parts – wearing a band around his face and carrying chains and cash boxes as Marley, then switching to a nightcap as Scrooge.
Rapstad played the ghost of Christmas Past wearing a sparkly cape and tiara, as well as Scrooge’s sister, Fran, and his betrothed, Belle, both with different hats and shawls. It was totally fun watching her switch back and forth.
Panek played the ghost of Christmas Present, then grabbed a crutch to become Tiny Tim. All three sat down for a meal as the Cratchit family.
You'll have to see the show to see the creepy ghost of Christmas Future.
The Dickens’ Christmas Carol Dinner Show runs through December 11th at the Theatre at the Center, Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster. Parking is free. Running time is approximately 75 minutes with an intermission. Performances are:
Thursday, December 8, 2 pm with option of adding Noon meal- Friday, December 9, 2 pm with option of adding Noon meal
- Friday, December 9, 7 pm with option of adding 5:30 pm meal
- Saturday, December 10, 2 pm with option of adding Noon meal
- Saturday, December 10, 7 pm with option of adding 5 pm meal
- Sunday, December 11, 3 pm with option of adding 1 pm meal
Tickets: Show only $30. FYI (219) 836-3255 or www.cvpa.org/christmas-dinner-show. Additional dinner option $25. FYI Trama Catering (219) 836-1930 ext 2