chantal kreviazuk - Page One Publishing

chantal
kreviazuk
with the
Victoria
Symphony
250.385.6515 victoriasymphony.ca
saturday, december 15, 8 pm
AND SPEAKING
OF TRADITIONS ...
TONY BOUNSALL
Royal Theatre
W
hen Charles Dickens wrote that simple
story of a rotten man, driven by guilt
(and ghosts) to redemption, he could not have
imagined the permanent place his novella
would occupy in literature, stage, film, and pop
culture 170 years later.
A Christmas Carol, that indictment of 19th
century industrialism and classism, has given
us more than a morality tale for the ages.
It’s coined its own lexicon: Scrooge, Merry
Christmas, Bah! Humbug!, and Tiny Tim.
Belfry Theatre artistic director Michael
Shamata has done something of the same with
his stage adaptation of Dickens’ masterwork.
And Victoria audiences will finally get to see
the production that has become a theatrical
staple across the country since making its
debut in 1990 at Theatre New Brunswick.
“I would say it’s a tale
about humanity and kind
of opening our eyes to the
world around us.”
“I wanted to do A Christmas Carol, but
couldn’t find an adaptation I liked. Most of them
had narrators, or Dickens as a character. What
struck me is, [Jacob] Marley sets the whole
thing in motion in order to save his friend’s soul.
So I came up with this conceit that the actor
who plays Marley plays all three spirits.”
Other than that casting twist, Shamata
says that to call it a morality tale sounds
preachy. “I would say it’s a tale about
humanity and kind of opening our eyes to
the world around us.”
A Christmas Carol opens November 13 at
the Belfry, starring Tom McBeath as Scrooge.
Canadian superstar and classically trained pianist
Chantal Kreviazuk performs her greatest hits
surrounded by the symphonic splendour of the
Victoria Symphony. This one-night-only special
performance will sell out, get your tickets early!
Ballet Victoria gives new life to a classic tale
to celebrate the holiday season with humour,
dance and Tchaikovsky’s most famous score.
Royal Theatre, Victoria
December 27, 28 + 29 | 7:30 pm
December 30 | 2:00 pm
Tickets: 250-386-6121
rmts.bc.ca
Paul Destrooper/Artistic Director
www.balletvictoria.ca
YAM MAGAZINE
95