Theater Preview:

Carol Scrooge leads the charge in CTC adaptation of Dickens classic

Carol Scrooge (played by Lisa Saldano, left) and the Ghost of Christmas Past (Harv Holtz), rehearse a scene from "Christmas Carol" Sunday night at Chico Theater Company.

(Ty Barbour/The Buzz)

"Christmas Carol," a new adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic Christmas tale, premieres Friday at Chico Theater Company.

The play was written and is directed by the theater's managing director, Marc Edson.

"I wrote this while leaning very heavily on the Dickens text," Edson stated in a press release. "Charles Dickens wrote a lot of humor and funny lines into 'A Christmas Carol' but you never see it in any of the movies or other stage plays. I made sure that I included them in this version."

One big change in Edson's version of "Christmas Carol" is that the role of the timeless curmudgeon and lead character, Scrooge, is a woman.

"When I started writing, I first knew that I wanted to set 'Christmas Carol' in modern day. Then the proverbial light went on over my head and I thought 'Let's make Scrooge a woman. She can go through the same problems that a male Ebenezer Scrooge would go through,'" Edson said.

Edson named her Carol Scrooge, a nice tie-in to the play's title, and designated her former business partner and redeeming ghost, Jacob Marley, as her deceased husband.

Edson took it one step further and made the sympathetic character of Tiny Tim into Scrooge and Marley's son.

"Tim starts acting out by getting into trouble with the law," Edson said. "Sound like many families in this world we live in? Carol Scrooge needs to learn what is important in this precious life we live and save her son.

"The show is written as a moral lesson to preserve and hold dear the important things in life. Not fleeting values, like money and possessions. Dickens was imparting that message back in 1843 when 'A Christmas Carol' was first published and it's even more important today."

With special effects and minimal set changes, the show moves quickly. "And it's totally appropriate for the entire family," Edson said.

After this run of performances is complete, Edson plans to have "Christmas Carol" published for community theater groups all over the country to produce.

Chico Theater Company presents "Christmas Carol," 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, then Thursdays through Saturdays through Dec. 17, with 2 p.m. performances Dec. 4, 11 and 18. Chico Theater Company is located at 166 Eaton Road. Tickets, $15-$22 ($2 discount for seniors and students), are available at the box office (noon-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday), by calling 894-3282 or visiting www.chicotheatercompany.com. Add $2 at the door. All seats are $15 on Thursdays.