Actor recreates role as Bob Cratchit in ‘Christmas Carol’

Sandra Kraisirideja

GLENDALE -- Moments before the stage lights come on at the Glendale

Centre Theatre, actor Tim Sabourin stands in a tunnel under the audience,

waiting to go on stage.

“It’s pitch black in the tunnel,” Sabourin said. “I can’t see my hand

in front of my face. Then the music starts and the prerecorded narration

of Charles Dickens’ preface to ‘A Christmas Carol’ begins. For me, that

is the moment when I become Bob Cratchit.”

This is Glendale Centre Theatre’s 37th consecutive annual performance

of the holiday classic. This year, it is directed by Justin Eick.

Sabourin is returning to the role of Bob Cratchit for a second year.

It will be easy to keep the show fresh, he said, with new actors starring

as Mrs. Cratchit and Scrooge.

“What they bring to the table changes my approach,” he said. “Acting

is about listening and reacting. There may be a rehearsal process, but

each night on stage is different.”

Sabourin said having a top-notch costume shop and set design

department also make his job easy.

“The company’s biggest asset has to be its costume shop,” he said.

“For an actor, it’s great to have authenticity in the costumes because it

helps put you in the mind-set of the character.”

After researching the book, Sabourin said he found an aspect of

Cratchit’s character that has not been portrayed on the stage or screen.

After Scrooge tells Cratchit that he can leave the office early, Sabourin

said, Cratchit does not run home right away but sleds down a hill about

20 times with some children.

“He’s just a big kid, but he always has a brave face for family, even

in desperate situations,” Sabourin said.

The first version of “A Christmas Carol” that he saw starred Albert

Finney, but the adaptation that really stuck in his mind was done by Rich

Little.

“He played all the characters using impersonations of famous people,”

he said.

The version performed by the Glendale Centre Theatre adheres closely

to the book thus allowing the audience to glimpse what London must have

been like during Dickens’ life. Several musical numbers have also been

inserted into the play in order to enhance the production.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Glendale Centre Theatre concludes its 54th anniversary season

with Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” directed by Justin Eick.

WHEN: 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, with two performances at 3 and 8

p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 23.

WHERE: Glendale Centre Theatre, 324 N. Orange St., Glendale.

TICKETS: $12.50 to $21.

PHONE: 244-8481.