In Bull Skit’s A Christmas Carol, the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge gets transformed into a kinder, more generous soul.
Or not.
Maybe Ebenezer doesn’t learn a thing from the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Future. Maybe he stays as miserable as ever, shaking his fist at the poor, and rolling his eyes at foolish do-gooders and their overblown holiday celebrations.
The latter scenario is a definite possibility in the improvised version of Charles Dickens’s story A Christmas Carol, which will be performed by the Bull Skit gang from Against the Wall Theatre on Sunday at Fratters Speakeasy in Red Deer.
The same local crew that stages monthly sketch comedy shows in downtown Red Deer is putting a different spin on the seasonal tale of redemption by allowing the audience to determine whether Scrooge finds any personal insight at all.
“We give them an option to decide if Scrooge changes or not. Does he stay as a crabby old guy or do they want him to sincerely transform into somebody better?” said Bull Skit member Jeremy Robinson, who will portray Scrooge’s timid, much put-upon employee Bob Cratchit.
The audience will be asked to decide many plot points, turning the familiar story into something unexpected.
For instance, does Scrooge manage a bank, a machinist shop or do other kind of work?
Does he say “Bah! Humbug!” or use another expression to deride the Christmas season?
This is where adult language can come into play, depending on the whim of the audience, said Robinson. In a version of A Christmas Carol that was recently improvised at a private function, he said the audience opted to make Tiny Tim suffer from a venereal disease instead of a lame leg.
Yep, anything goes in the Bull Skit world, he added. ... The Cratchits might well be dining on Kraft Dinner or other meagre fare.
“The audience chooses the kind of story they want to see. It’s definitely an irreverent take, but it’s a lot of fun. You never know what to expect — and we never know what to expect either.
“It’s kind of like choosing your own adventure.”
Eight Bull Skit cast members, including Daniel Vasquez as Scrooge, will perform a show that’s loosely directed by Jenna Goldade.
It will run from 6 to 7 p.m. with a $15 cover charge added to your Fratters bill. (Doors open at 4 p.m.)
The audience can then stay for Sunday Cinema night at Fratters. There is no charge for anyone attending the 7 p.m. screening of the Christmas classic It’s a Wonderful Life.
lmichelin@www.reddeeradvocate.com