Truly better than ever

The best ever, promised Director Deborah Sparks and Jim Bredouw. The latter wrote the music for the Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol,” which will be performed this Wednesday through Saturday, Dec. 17-20 at Orcas Center.

Such promises may sound like cliches, but in this particular case, the pair are right on target.

“A Christmas Carol,” which will be presented for the third year on Orcas Island (it was previously performed in 1999 and 2000), has a cast of 70. It will feature performances by world renowned musicians Aloysia Friedmann, who will open the show playing a violin solo under the moonlight while dressed as a street musician; and her husband, Jon Kimura (Jackie) Parker, demonstrating his “virtuosity” on the piano, Bredouw says. Friedmann was formerly the concert master when “A Christmas Carol” was performed in New York City at Madison Square Garden.

The Orcas A Capella group, headed by Dennis Bonner, will sing in the show, while portions of the music have been pre-recorded by the Seattle Symphony and the Olga Symphony. Bredouw described their contributions in a single word. “Unbelievable,” he said.

Bredouw and Sparks decided to come up with an improved version of “A Christmas Carol” after watching a video tape from the year 2000 show. “We saw this could be better,” Bredouw says. “It was very exciting. We’ve improved everything.”

This year’s rendition will feature a cast of 70, many of them children. Bredouw describes the kids’ performances as “brilliant.”

Several of the stars of the 1999 and 2000 performances will return, among them Gabriel Olmsted, who plays Scrooge; Susan Osborn, the Ghost of Christmas Present; and Tim McHugh, who portrays Bob Cratchett.

Proceeds from the shows will benefit The Funhouse (See page A-1). But Bredouw says the performances contain messages far more important than the need to help The Funhouse. “It’s about the joy of giving,” Jim Bredouw says. “It creates a liberating feeling.”

Sparks says she is honored to have been selected by Bredouw to direct the show. “I got behind your passion,” she told him, adding that her way to give back to the Orcas Island community is through theater.

TICKET INFORMATION

“A Christmas Carol” will be performed Wednesday through Saturday, Dec. 17-20, at 7 p.m. There will also be a Saturday matinee at 1 p.m.

Tickets for Orcas Center members, students, and seniors are $12. The price is $18 for non-members. There is also a special $2 admission for children 13 and under, but for the matinee only. Call the Orcas Center box office, 376-ACT1.