What's Old is New as 'A Christmas Carol' Returns

After breaking box-office records with its last production, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” chances are good the will finish the year on a high note as it stages Neil Bartlett’s unique adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” for the second time in five years. But artistic director Bonnie Monte promises that this show will be a “whole new redesign” of her 2007 production, which like “Mockingbird” was a big hit with critics and audiences in Madison.

“When I did it originally I said I was not going to go back, because I’m not interested in remounts,” she said during a recent phone interview. “But there were a lot of people who kept saying, ‘please reconsider.’ I finally said I would do it again as long as everyone understood it would not be a remount. I went back to the book and saw some things I wanted to do differently. The ghosts, for instance, were completely reconceived. I think we made some interesting choices.”

There will be some familiar faces back for this production and, of course, the dialogue — Bartlett crafted his script using Dickens’ exact words and nothing more — is some of the most familiar prose in the English language.

Four actors from the 2007 production — Greg Jackson, Ames Adamson, Erin Partin and Tina Stafford — return to join seven other actors who will play more than 50 roles. Only nine actors were used in 2007. Several of the parts they played last time, however, have been changed.

The most notable addition to the cast is Philip Goodwin as Scrooge, who was played in 2007 by company favorite Sherman Howard. People who saw Goodwin earlier this summer as the exasperated police detective in the company’s outrageous production of “Accidental Death of an Anarchist” will applaud this choice.

“Even though he has done some shows here, I have not a chance to work with [Goodwin], so it’s exciting for me,” Monte said. “He certainly has a different take on Scrooge than Sherman Howard, both physically and intellectually.”

A few more company veterans have also signed on including John Ahlin, Clark Carmichael and Susan Maris. Blake Pfeil will make his company debut as Tiny Tim.

“A few cast changes were necessary,” Monte said. “For one thing, our Tiny Tim from the last one is now in the Yale Drama School.”

Goodwin, for one, is thrilled about returning to Madison to take a crack at such an iconic character. Given the demands of the role, he’s the only member of the ensemble who is not portraying multiple parts. But unlike many other actors, he does not feel the need to put his own unique stamp on the complex and enigmatic Scrooge.

“Not so much a fresh take as an honest take,” he said. “We’re using so much of Dickens’ own words, so in many ways, so much of it is laid out for you.”

He’s also enjoying the opportunity to work with Monte.

“I’ve only done a few shows here but I’ve seen so many,” said the New York-based actor, who has many friends who have worked here in the past. “I’ve been friends with Bonnie for a long time. We’ve actually traveled together. I’ve seen her go Christmas shopping six months in advance, putting something on layaway for a cast member.”

Monte also looked back on the company’s 49th season and her 21st as she looks forward to the big 50th anniversary season coming up.

“It was an extraordinary season, with strong dramatic themes throughout,” she said. “And we set box-office records even though — despite cancellations because of hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters — we lost in total about 12 performances.”

The biggest surprise, she said, was the positive reception to “Anarchist,” Dario Fo’s frequently bizarre and highly politicized comedy.

“I was excited about doing ‘Anarchist,’ and I thought it was very funny,” she said. “But I wasn’t sure how they audience would respond. They were utterly delighted.”

Just another reason why the past season, as it always seems to be here, will be a hard act to follow in 2012.

“We’re working on it,” she said. “So much pressure with this being the 50th anniversary. We hope to announce it soon.”

 “A Christmas Carol” runs December 1 to January 1 at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Ave. at , Madison. Tickets are $32 to $55. No performances Dec. 24-25. For tickets and show times, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.shakespearenj.org.