The title immediately raises eyebrows: A Tiny Christmas Carol.

So what exactly does that mean? Is it a miniature set? Is it just a snippet of the famous Charles Dickens classic that we all know so well?

No, the reference to tiny in the Christmas show at the Chemainus Theatre running from Dec. 2-23 simply means a production that would normally encompass a large cast to tell the tale is much smaller. But tiny certainly does not define the roles of the performers who all become larger than life during a constant transition into a multitude of characters.

You just won鈥檛 find the entire Cratchett clan, for example, assembled at the dinner table.

There鈥檚 Scrooge (Louise Phillips) and then just four actors in the ensemble 鈥� Emma Slipp, Jay Clift, Yasmin D鈥橭shun and Stephen Thakkar 鈥� to portray all the others in the new adaptation by Jessica Schacht and Chemainus Theatre Festival artistic director Mark DuMez.

The slow return from COVID restrictions has necessitated reduced casts for all Chemainus Theatre shows this season. But that hasn鈥檛 diminished the charm of the productions in the least and this is another prime example.

Ming Hudson, originally from Edmonton and now Vancouver-based who鈥檚 been transitioning her career during the lean COVID years, makes her debut at the Chemainus Theatre as director of the performance.

鈥淚鈥檝e been seeing shows here for a really long time,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 also an actor. I haven鈥檛 had the pleasure of working here in any capacity. It feels really cool to be here.鈥�

Working on such an interesting project for her is a bonus.

鈥淭he audience is going to recognize the characters and the story,鈥� Hudson pointed out for starters.

鈥淚 think our audience should also expect the unexpected. It鈥檚 the same story with the same characters but it鈥檚 going to look a lot different than they鈥檙e used to.鈥�

鈥楨xpect the unexpected鈥� might be a great tagline for theatre companies to use. After all, that鈥檚 what keeps audiences engaged, entertained and enlightened without entirely predictable scripts.

鈥淚 try to make a show that maybe challenges the way people remember the story,鈥� said Hudson. 鈥淚t鈥檚 still set in period times. It just has more of a contemporary feel to it.鈥�

Needless to say, 鈥渋t鈥檚 an extremely versatile cast,鈥� Hudson said that she鈥檚 had the pleasure of working with during rehearsals that began Nov. 8 and advanced to the costume stage last week in preparation for the opening Friday.

There were a few hiccups with two cast members out with COVID for a week, but everything has still developed nicely.

鈥淲e have an understudy who鈥檚 jumped in and is amazing,鈥� Hudson said of Talietha Sangha. 鈥淚 think the cast has rallied and come together to create something magical.鈥�

Hudson has also been loving the collaborative effort that鈥檚 gone into A Tiny Christmas Carol.

From design concepts to the action on the stage, everything has been done as a collective.

鈥淚t was sort of my job to funnel them into one cohesive piece,鈥� Hudson noted.

With this valuable experience added to her resume, she鈥檚 going to keep all her future options open.

鈥淚鈥檓 not going to say I鈥檒l never act again,鈥� said Hudson. 鈥淏ut this has been a real pleasure.鈥�

Through all the bah humbugs, the true feeling of this joyous time of the year rings clear in A Tiny Christmas Carol.

鈥淲e hope that this show lifts your spirits and brings a little bit more colour to your holiday season,鈥� said Hudson.

Tickets are still available for the show at , but all space in the dining room is sold out for the three weeks.

A Tiny Christmas Carol will set the table for an announcement in early January about the Chemainus Theatre Festival鈥檚 2023 schedule.

don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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