This is going to be great, seeing many of the DS actors performing in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” We never really saw the DS actors perform in any Christmas-oriented episodes on the original series. I always wanted them to have the Collinwood drawing room to be decorated for Christmas with an eight-foot-tall Maine tree. The colorful Christmas stockings would be hanging by the majestic fireplace. Of course, the drawing room piano would be resplendent with a woodlands berry centerpiece from L.L. Bean of Freeport, Maine. And, speaking of the piano, wouldn’t it be great to hear Louis Edmonds (as the unfailingly convivial Roger Collins) singing Christmas songs with his favorite niece, Carolyn “Kitten” Stoddard, accompanying Uncle Roger on the piano?
Regarding the upcoming DS production of “A Christmas Carol,” I noticed that Patrick has mentioned that Jerry Lacy will be portraying Jacob Marley with David Selby taking on the role of the querulous and parsimonious Ebenezer Scrooge. Since Mrs. Dilber, Scrooge’s faithful and long-suffering chairwoman, is an important character, because she deals with both the initially miserly Scrooge and the joyously reformed Scrooge, I suppose KLS will assume the role. Incidentally, in the 1951 film, “Scrooge,” considered to be the definitive film version of the Dickens classic, Mrs. Dilber is performed by British actress Kathleen Harrison. The late, great Patrick MacNee, who portrayed young Jacob Marley in the same film, said that Ms. Harrison was one of England’s great character actresses. So, Ms. Scott has large shoes to fill.
As to some of the other key roles, I could see James Storm as the kindly Bob Cratchit with Marie Wallace as Mrs. Cratchit. David Henesy, being the youngest cast member (at age 65!) will portray Tiny Tim. (Boy, does THAT make me feel old!)
Perhaps Alexandra Isles will portray Fan “Fanny” Scrooge, Ebenezer’s beloved sister, who dies much too young
in childbirth? Lara Parker might portray Alice, Ebenezer’s gentle and selfless wife, whom the cold and curmudgeonly Scrooge divorces and, later, lives to deeply regret it.
Mitchel Ryan would be terrific as the Ghost of Christmas Past. And if we could see some the deceased DS actors portray some Dickens characters, wouldn’t the distinguished Thayer David be absolutely superb as the larger-than-life of Christmas Present? The Ghost of Christmas Future doesn’t have much to do in the story. Maybe the ubiquitous Richie Halpern could assume that role?
Finally, wouldn’t it be great to see Dark Shadows’ first romantic couple, Joe Haskell and Carolyn Stoddard, a/k/a Joel Crothers and Nancy Barrett, portraying, respectively, Fred, Ebenezer’s estranged nephew, and Fred’s lovely wife?
I understand that Joel Crothers was an expert on Charles Dickens’ novels from Mr. Crothers’ days as an undergraduate student at Harvard University.
Oh, yeah, I could also see Denise Nickerson, Kathy Cody and Michael Maitland as Tiny Tim’s siblings. I look forward to seeing the DS cast in this classic Christmas tale.
Bob
