THE TALE OF EBENEZER SCROOGE

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One World Actors Centre Production House opened the English Season on Saturday, Dec 4 at the Yarmouk Cultural Centre after two years of lockdown, in four spectacular presentations of Charles Dickens’ classic seasonal story of ‘THE TALE OF EBENEZER SCROOGE’ presented as a joyous gift to the public. The production was adapted and directed by Hamad Al Jenaie and produced by Alison Shan Price MBE – the creative team who presented HAMLET in the 25th Cultural Season of the Dar al Athar al Islamiyyah, under the National Council of Culture Arts and Letters, in 2019.

Excitement began upon entrance into the Yarmouk Cultural Centre as the White Room had been transformed into a magnificent snow scene of a village square in Victorian England with carol singers, a decorated seasonal tree donated by City Centre & Partners, and the stalls of delicious mince pies donated by Waitrose and coffee donated by Aura.

As the bell was rung, the guests were ushered in the Theatre to witness the timeless story written by Charles Dickens about the miser Ebenezer Scrooge played on the spectacular stage. Scrooge, played expertly by Peter Mullay, was threatened with a future of eternal damnation by his dead partner Jacob Marley( the frightening Fahad Awadhi) and a visitation of three ghosts representing his Past (the ethereal Sarah Al Saleh) Present (the jubilant Brian McLaughlin) and Future (puppetry). In his nightclothes, Scrooge is taken to visit memories of his childhood, what is happening around him now and what will happen to him and others in the future as he is unloved because of his love only for money. The only family he has left is his loving nephew Fred (the effervescent Wadih Daher). He visits his school days seeing himself as a boy, his youth and joy at meeting his fiance Belle (the beautiful Luset Kuntas) and realizing his stupidity in losing her as he chooses the love of money over her and their future children and his future, alone, ridiculed and unmissed (a scene hilariously led by comediennes Louisa Durnin with Laila Al Qadhi and Hind Khazaal).

Waking up in the morning he realizes he is alive, and it could have been a dream and promises to change. It ends with Scrooge looking after his clerk Bob Crachit (played with great emotion by Nader Abdullah who also narrated the show) and his family (led by the wonderful Le Mogene Tucker), donating to the poor and embracing Fred and his new family — a seasonal message of cheer and goodwill to all. Performed by members of the adult company One World Actors and the One World Youth Company, with stunning lighting by Siad Hashim Al Ali, Theatre Manager of the Yarmouk Cultural Centre, Sound Arrangement by Hamad Al Jenaie, Stage Management by Sarah Al Khabbaz and her team and Victorian costumes by Alison Shan Price, the play brought joy and seasonal happiness to all.

THE TALE OF EBENEZER SCROOGE
By Charles Dickens

Produced by: Alison Shan Price MBE
Adapted and Directed by: Hamad Al Jenaie

Starring:
Peter Mullay — Scrooge
Nader Abdullah — Narrator / Cratchit
Fahad Awadhi — Marley / Mr. Fletcher / Wealthy 1 / Undertaker Alfred
Wadih Daher — Fred / Wealthy 2 / Adult Scrooge
LeMogene D. Tucker — Mrs.Cratchit / Carol Singer
Ahamed Al Awadhi — Future
Laila Al Qadhi — Mrs. Fletcher /Chairwoman Olivia
Brian McLaghlin — Present / Mr.William / Fezziwig / Old Joe
Louisa Durnin — Mrs. Fezziwig /Chairwoman Olivier
Luset Kuntas — Belle / Sarah / Carol Singers
Hind Khazaal — Beggar Cathy /
Guest / Carol Singer
Sara Al Saleh — Past
Laila Farghali — Tiny Tim
Lina Jaber — Fran / Melinda / Carol Singer
Ali Farghali — Peter
Selma Farghali — Martha
Boris Mihaylova — Jack / Boy / Ignorant
Azfer Mir — Child Scrooge / Want /Carol Singer
Kerem Hidimoglu — Street Boy /Future
Tia Darwish — Carol Singer

One World Actors Centre CIC is a multicultural Production House and Educational Department based in Kuwait which has presented many productions and theatre workshops in Kuwait and UK. Productions have previously been part of the Dar al Athar al Islamiyyah Cultural Seasons under the National Council for Culture Arts and Letters, the British Embassy and the British Council Gulf Festival.

It presented the first bilingual (Arabic/English) theatre at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with the bilingual ANTIGONEan Arabian Tragedy (nominated for the Amnesty International Award and the Top Pick of the AlWaled Islamic Centre) and The Blue Box- Memories of Children of War based on the book The Blue Box by Emma Abdullah (which achieved critical reviews and a 5/5 star rating).

By Marlon Aquino Malinao Arab Times Staff Photos by Noor Elkafrawy

This news has been read 12150 times!