Pulse - New take on Dicken's classic

Trying to put a new spin on a beloved tale is never an easy task, especially when the story in question was penned by a literary giant like Charles Dickens. However, a production which stars just two actors and includes puppets has a pretty good chance of bringing something new to the holiday classic.

From Dec. 12 - 30, Epiphany Theater Company will present a brand new adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” written by playwright and Dickens enthusiast James Armstrong. 2007-2008 marks the company’s ninth season, and its first on Regent Street.

Epiphany works with professional early career artists who hail from some of the country’s most prestigious training programs. Nine of the company’s artists have gone on to Broadway, while the company has presented 6 premieres and developed over 40 new plays through readings and workshops.

Producing director Amy Kaissar said this will be Epiphany’s first season putting on “A Christmas Carol.” She believes it has the potential to become an annual or biannual staple of the company if there’s enough interest from the public.

“This was so theatrical it could only occur on stage,” Kaissar said of the adaptation. “It’s a twist we haven’t seen before. It’s a lot for just two actors to do.”

Hugh Sinclair stars as Ebenezer Scrooge. Actor George Deihl Jr., who many in the area may remember from his acclaimed portrayal of Nils Krogstad in the company’s 2006 production of

“A Doll House,” plays Bob Cratchit, Jacob Marley, Belle, Fezziwig, Tiny Tim, Dickens himself and a host of other characters in the play. The production also features puppets designed by Gretchen Van Lente of the New York City based Theater of Works; her puppets play The Ghost of Christmas Past, Young Scrooge, Fanny, and most impressively, a 10 foot tall Ghost of Christmas Future.

Armstrong, a founding member of the Northwest Florida Young Playwrights Society, studied playwriting and theater at Harvard University, Drew University, and Oxford University (Keble College). He also holds an M.F.A. in dramatic writing from the Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama. His plays have been seen across the country at theaters such as the Abingdon Theatre Company, CAP21, New Jersey Repertory Company, Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey, and Urban Stages.

Director Jose Zayas is a co-founder of The Immediate Theater Company. He has directed at Repertorio Espanol, Target Margin Theater, Clubbed Thumb, Virginia Stage Company, and Ontological-Hysterical. In addition, Zayas has been the recipient of a Van Lier Fellowship, a Peter Sellers award, a Drama League Directing Fellowship, a Kenneth Frankel Fellowship, and a John Pasquin Fellowship.

Kaissar said the company’s last production, “Tuesdays with Morrie,” went very well, and she hopes people who enjoyed that play will come back to see something totally different. She believes their adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” is great entertainment for the whole family, but said it’s really only appropriate for children over the age of seven because of some scary content.

“There’s great acting, costumes and set designs,” Kaissar said. “It’s a fun holiday activity, and it’s sure to be a wonderful evening.”