EBENEZER! Thalian Association sends season’s greetings with a holiday classic

It’s December, and for some folks, that means French hens, turtle doves, and a pear tree. You know what I’m talking about, Christmas! It’s like the main event of holidays; the Yule time caps off the year with good tidings to all and some figgy pudding if you’re lucky. A time where family and friends band together to spread merriment and cheer, and as an elf named Buddy once said, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear.” Which is exactly what the Thalian Association plans to do this Christmas season. As they ramp up to open their latest production, “Ebenezer!” A musical adaptation of Charles Dickins’ seminal ghostly Christmas classic, “A Nightmare Before Christmas”…er… I mean “A Christmas Carol.”  

As everyone knows, the holiday season, while delightful, brings about its own holiday levels of stress. Now add in leading the charge of a production and I can only imagine a Clark Griswold-like blowup would be brewing. Though, when you’re Chandler Davis, the artistic director of the Thalian Association Community Theatre by day, Director/Set Designer by night, and all-around amazing human being within that 24-hour time period, it’s just another day at the office. As busy as Davis is, the regisseur was gracious enough to sit down with me before rehearsals to discuss the soon-to-open musical adaption, “Ebenezer!”  

In her office at the Community Arts Center, rocking some awesome Christmas themed pajamas, Davis informs me that tonight is “Tacky Christmas Pajama Night” at rehearsal. Also, tomorrow is “Christmas Cookie Night!” Immediately two things stood out to me. One, that this was an ensemble of creatives having a fun time, and two, I should have planned this interview for cookie night. 

Davis kicked off our conversation advocating for the quality of not just the Thalian Association, but of all Wilmington Theatre. “I feel like, and everyone knows, Wilmington Theatre is on steroids! Coming from a professional background, we have people here who get off their 9-to-5’s and can run circles around pros I see around the country.” A sentiment I whole-heartly agree with. 

From a marketing standpoint, it’s just good business to stage a Christmas show in December. That said, Davis’ selection of this particular adaptation carries a certain importance to it. As its creation is rooted right here in the Cape Fear, “This show is written by Frank Trimble, who is a professor in UNCW’s communications department. This is the thirtieth anniversary of when the show was first staged.” 

Davis would expound that she even has a DVD copy of the original staging. “So, Frank wanted to see the show re-staged and offered it rights free, which was super nice of him. However, I was hesitant to do it because he only had tracks for the show. I just feel that, for the ticket price, I want to be able to give audiences that live band sound. That’s when I had the craziest idea…”

It was at this moment the light of a mad scientist lit-up in Davis’ eye; “Maybe we can orchestrate it!” she proclaimed. “I talked to Denise Hopper, who is our music director, and she, along with the orchestra, have been transcribing the music so that we can have a live orchestra.” That detail alone had me in awe.

A story as old as “A Christmas Carol” has seen its fair share of reimaginings, with it being 182 years since it was first published and all. Some are very traditional takes on the Dickinsian novel, others are Michael Caine yelling at Muppets. 

So, I had to ask Davis just where this adaptation falls? “It’s a very straightforward version of “A Christmas Carol”” Davis would go on to tell. “Except with MEGA anachronisms. It’s taking place in the original time period, but there are a lot of contemporary jokes and references.” 

Davis caught herself in excitement, “Oh, oh I’m forgetting the biggest thing! There are like ten different genres of music represented here.” She listed them off as she nodded her head in glee, “there is a hoedown number, a polka number, there’s a gospel number in there.”

Upon hearing this, all I could do was chuckle in excitement, as this was not the “Christmas Carol” I was expecting to see. 

“Our costume designer was like, okay we have this Hoedown, are you wanting them in western wear? And I was like, nope.” With the mental picture of a Victorian era Hoedown shaping in my mind, my next question was created on the fly. “Chandler, are you a Doctor Who fan?” with a sly nod the director answered, “Yes.”

Chandler would go on to mention how Stewart Pike, the actor playing the Ebenezer role, perfectly embodies the infamous character. “We just finished blocking the scene where Ebenezer finishes his time with the Ghost of Christmas Future. Where he ends up back in his room, and realizes that he’s not dead. Just watching Stewart feel that gratitude as Ebenezer is powerful. Stewart is a family man; the holidays mean so much to him and after a number of personal conversations, he, as the actor, feels the weight of that same gratitude.”

When I asked what drew her to direct this ambitious production, outside a love of Christmas, Davis made the beautifully poignant point. “I think it’s a story of hope and redemption, and most importantly, that it’s never too late to change your perspective.” 

Davis took a moment to contemplate the question further, “The best way to make the world a better place, and our individual bubbles better places. is by bolstering community. I think that when Ebenezer goes through his journey, he realizes how much his actions trickled down into the community. So, when given that second chance, he does go back to donate to all the charities, he does go to Bob Cratchit to check on Tiny Tim, he does go find his nephew. It shows that outside of hope and redemption, being there for your community will make it stronger, thus making you stronger.” 

Davis released a loud sigh, “What can I say, I’m a cheeseball?” Cheesy or not, that was one hell of a great answer. 

Davis goes on to add, “I mean, I think that fact Ebenezer wakes up on Christmas Day with an outlook change of ‘I’m going to be nice now.’ The community, instead of punishing him, is all like, ’Word. Come on in and join the party Fam.’ I love how they are accepting of him (Ebenezer), forgive him, and just move on.”

I wrapped our conversation up on that note, I mean, that was a hell of a note to go out on. We said our goodbyes, thanked one another for our time, and I let Davis join her growing cast as they assembled for rehearsal. 

As I left the Community Arts Center, stepping out into the brisk night air, bathed in the red and green Christmas lights decorating the building, I felt warm. Admittedly I’m something of a seasonal cynic, and I’m sure some could even call me a Scrooge. I don’t know if it was Davis’ infectious joy, or just the subject matter of “A Christmas Carol” itself, but I found myself whistling a little Christmas carol to myself as I walked to my car. I had found my Christmas Spirit. 

So, join in on part the Christmas Cheer with The Thalian Associations’ “Ebenezer!” Get your tickets now, you don’t want to end up on the naughty list do you? 

Epilogue

The next morning after our chat I received an email from Chandler Davis; there was an important detail she had meant to mention. It was that this production of “Ebenezer” was in loving memory of one of their reed players, Tori McLamb, who sadly passed away during the rehearsal period. McLamb has played in the orchestra for over 100 shows for several different companies in Wilmington. In her email, Chandler asked if there was space to mention this. There is always space.

Thank you Tori McLamb, for your music, your talent, and being a part of our community. 

Details:

Ebenezer! A Musical Christmas Carol

Thalian Historic Main Stage | 310 Chestnut St.

December 12-21, Fri.-Sat., 7:30 p.m. | Sun., 2 p.m.

Thurs., Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m. | Sat., Dec. 20 2 p.m.

Tickets: $28-$42

thalianhall.org