Playing With Tradition

Every year, local theater companies turn to Charles Dickens, primarily his fable “A Christmas Carol.” And why not? Not only is the tale a classic with strong characters and relatively easily told, it’s also in the public domain, so nobody has to pay royalties.

There’s another advantage that’s being brought out locally this year: Dickens’ story lends itself to all manner of interpretation.

There’s the classic version, now playing at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza in a production that’s 10 years old.

But for those looking for something a bit different, two other interpretations are now on local boards.

The “Christmas Carol” playing at the Elite Theater in Oxnard brings the story into the present day with surprising success. And “A Dickens of a Holiday,” at the Camarillo Community Theater, takes the classic story and adds puns, sight gags and amusing anachronistic references . . . all befitting a play that was becoming a tradition at the old Moorpark Melodrama.

The Elite’s updating of “A Christmas Carol” was written by pseudonymous Patricia Bird and Regina Matthews and directed by Patricia (hint!) Lynn-Strickland; an earlier version played at an Oxnard high school a few years ago.

This adaptation cleverly combines the story of Scrooge and the Cratchits with the holiday film favorite “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Here, Scrooge’s old partner, Marley (Tom Bird) is, like the film’s Clarence, waiting to earn his wings as an angel. To do so, he has to make crusty old skinflint Scrooge (Robert E. “Doc” Reynolds) repent. Two other angels are around to watch Marley’s progress.

Some of the modernization doesn’t work so well: There’s a game of charades that doesn’t go anywhere--and besides, “The Stingiest Man in Town, Uncle Scrooge” is not a movie title. On the other hand, replacing the homeless people fighting over the dead Scrooge’s possessions with a trio of lawyers fighting over the estate borders on genius.

Mark Bailey, a local songwriter, contributes an Eagles-like original number, “No Vacancy,” that everybody sings at a party.

(Coincidentally, Reynolds and Bob Decker, who plays Bob Cratchit in this production, appear as the same characters in a radio production of the classic version, airing Dec. 18 and 24 at 6 p.m. on KBBY-FM (91.5). The producer of this show, also celebrating its 10th anniversary, is James Wortman, who plays the Ghost of Christmas Present in the Elite production.)

Damian Gravino stars as Scrooge in Camarillo’s “A Dickens of a Holiday,” co-written, directed and choreographed by Adrea Gibbs. It’s a good thing Gravino is as strong an actor and singer as he is: He’s been hard to avoid.

He played Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof,” Jesus in “Godspell” and Frank Butler in “Annie Get Your Gun” virtually nonstop during the past several months. But he is good, and--despite production values somewhat below the old Melodrama’s--”Dickens” is flat-out fun. All three ghosts are manifested by Elvis Presley (George Thomas) in his young, middle and, um, fat periods (they should have sprung for a “fat suit,” though); Tiny Tim (Ken Jones in the part he was born to play) sings “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” . . . you get the idea. Plenty of popular songs, most of them seasonal, are incorporated as per Melodrama tradition. It’s best if you’re old enough to match up with Gibbs and co-writer Scott Martin’s cultural references, which tend to ‘60s television and Nick at Nite.

And although there’s plenty of room for more recent stuff, it’s absent--would it be too hard for somebody to ask “Is that your final answer?” or drop in a “Dawson’s Creek’ reference? This script could and should be updated every year and would be even funnier than it already is.

DETAILS

“A Christmas Carol” (traditional version) continues through Dec. 19 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s Forum Theater, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Performances are Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday and Dec. 18 and 19 at 2:30 p.m. There will be no performance Friday. Tickets are $25, $22 seniors and students, $15 ages 12 and under, available at the box office or through TicketMaster at 583-8700. For group rates, call 522-8010; for further general information, call (818) 991-8848.

“A Christmas Carol” (modern version) continues Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. through Dec. 19 at the Petit Playhouse, 730 South B St. in Oxnard’s Heritage Square. Tickets to all performances are $12, $10 seniors and students. For reservations or more information, call 483-5118. Reservations are essential: This is a small theater and the show has been selling out.

“A Dickens of a Holiday” concludes Dec. 19 at the Camarillo Airport Theatre, 330 Skyway Drive on the Camarillo Airport grounds. Performances are Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12; $10 seniors, students and active military; $8 ages 11 and under. For reservations or further information, call 388-5716.

Todd Everett can be reached at teverett@concentric.net