FMHS Drama Class’s A Christmas Carol

Last Friday, December 9th, was the first play performed by Frazier Mountain High School’s drama department in over 5 years. Drama is a new class that was added this year and is taught by Miss White, who has had theatrical experience in school both onstage and backstage. After spending the first quarter learning the basics of theater, it was announced at the end of October that they would be performing A Christmas Carol (based on Charles Dickens’ classic novel).

The play is a story of a profit motivated business man, Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by Christmas ghosts who attempt to make him see the error of his ways and get him to be more generous and humane. Scrooge was played by Charles Robertson, a first time actor who did a phenomenal job. Some other cast members included Mikey Flinn as Marley; Alexis Stears, Mikaela Kjenaas, and Isabella Cuellar as the three Christmas ghosts (past, present, and future respectively); Levi Ellis as Fred (Scrooge’s nephew); Dallas Matthew and Brianna Edwards as Mr. and Mrs. Cratchit; and Everett Ludwig as Tiny Tim.

In all honesty it was a last minute play. Due to conflicts with sports, issues with the set and tech, and the limited amount of preparation time, the first dress rehearsal was the night before the play; and the first run-through with the whole cast was 5 hours before the actual performance. Let’s just say tensions were high, and the first run-through was a complete disaster: people still didn’t know their lines and the set changes were long and dysfunctional. Many people were very afraid of how the play would turn out. However during the second run-through, things went much more smoothly and it looked like a real show might be possible.

Despite all the problems that occurred the actual performance was a huge success! Everything ran smoothly, and the actors, despite being nervous and many of them being new to theater, performed spectacularly. By the end of the play Miss White was detained by all of the people offering congratulations, praise, and even asking if there was going to be a second performance. Many of the actors, having just finished their first play, hugged and celebrated together. Everyone was elated: they had pulled it off!

When asked about the play, student Grace Gilani said, “I thought the play was very well rehearsed. The actors really knew their lines. I’m so sorry that they were only able to do one performance. I can’t wait until their next production!” The play overall was a great way to start a Christmas holiday and remind us of the joys of Christmastime. I guarantee you, this play was no “Humbug!”

#drama