Theater adaptations of Charles Dickens’ 1843 classic A Christmas Carol hit the stage almost immediately after the novella’s publication. To this day, consuming some form of this tale is a beloved holiday tradition. If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “Boy, there sure are a lot of different versions of A Christmas Carol,” you should know that the historically accurate thing to do is to see as many as possible. And if you’ve yet to partake of this holiday tradition, this is your year.
But which rendition is the most quintessentially Portland? That’s easy: mine. As a Christmas-obsessed native of this city, there is no one better qualified to present a fantasy re-imagining of this timeless story with a cast of the unique people, places, and things that exemplify my hometown’s spirit.
Samantha Van Der Merwe, Director
My chaotic, unhinged fantasy production concept needs a director who specializes in the wild and whimsical, so my first call would be to Samantha Van Der Merwe, Founding Artistic Director of Shaking the Tree Theatre. One of my all-time favorite arts experiences was Shaking the Tree's 2012 production, The Tripping Point, in which the audience wandered through eight tiny theater spaces featuring eight solo-actor fairy tales. Samantha isn't afraid of the messy or complicated and is a strong collaborator. Done.
The Keller Auditorium as Ebenezer Scrooge
It's a weird beginning, but hear me out. The Keller is one of the cornerstones of the city's arts scene. Portland needs a Keller, but the current iteration isn't quite living up to the demands. The solution? Give the building a complete renovation? Relocate and start from scratch? No one knows how it will play out, but change is always scary. At the same time, there's excitement in possibility; maybe after we dig deep into the building's past, present, and future, we'll come out on the other side with a vibrant, re-energized community space that brings people together better than ever.
Bill Naito as Bob Cratchit
Portland civic leader William "Bill" Sumio Naito was born in Portland to Japanese immigrants who escaped internment by fleeing to Utah. As an adult, he went into real estate development, restoring Portland's historic buildings and breathing new life into urban neighborhoods. From Saturday Market and the MAX train to the iconic libraries, trees, and arts festivals, Bill had a hand in making Portland great. Bob Cratchit's optimism thrived despite his poverty; Bill succeeded despite rampant racism. Many of his investments were risky, and people told him he was crazy—just like Bob, who always believed that Scrooge could turn around, too.
Ronnie Lacroute as Mrs. Cratchit
One of Mrs. Cratchit's most memorable moments in Dickens' story is refusing to toast to Scrooge when he joins the Cratchit family for dinner. He's not welcome at her table until he's left his miserly ways behind. As one of Portland's most beloved and prolific arts patrons, Ronni Lacroute is an obvious choice for the character who gathers people around her table to create something magical. She's briskly practical and wants artists paid well because she understands that making art is real work. If more philanthropists took a page from her book, the world would be better for it.
The PDX Airport Carpet as Tiny Tim
It's back, baby! Just as Tiny Tim lived on thanks to Scrooge's about-face, the iconic teal-and-purple carpet installed at the airport in the early '90s has a new lease on life.
With its pattern of lines and dots meant to evoke an air traffic controller's onscreen view, the #pdxcarpet was a masterpiece of '80s kitsch. We all lost our minds when the Port of Portland replaced it in 2015. Nine years later, the Port of Portland has heard our cries of woe. You'll find the resurrected design in the new main terminal art PDX, where a whole new generation will discover the joy of the "home for the holidays" shoe selfie.
The 1990–91 Portland Trail Blazers as The Ghost of Christmas Past
Scrooge's visionary journey with the first of his ghostly visitors reminds him of how he once was and what he's lost. In my production, we travel back to a Friday night in April 1991. Picture it. Tonight is the first game of the playoffs. You went to school today in your white home game jersey and listened to "Rip City Rhapsody" on your Walkman. You will stay up to watch the Blazers take on the Sonics, and tomorrow, you will see that iconic black, white, and red pinwheel logo everywhere you go. Do you see where I'm going with this?
Darcelle XV as The Ghost of Christmas Present
When the patron saint of Portland entertainment passed away at 85, Darcelle XV (alias Walter Willard Cole) was the world's oldest drag queen performer, with a career that spanned over half a century. Who better exemplifies this ghost's exuberant, irrepressible zest for life and generosity of spirit than the bewigged, bejeweled icon whose signature nightclub threw its doors open wide to welcome everyone? This ghost is the life of the party and shows Scrooge how much fun he could be having if he were not such a committed buzzkill.
Ursula Le Guin as The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Berkeley-born Ursula Le Guin moved to Portland in 1958, and we've since claimed her as our own. She is best known for writing books so unquestionably masterful that people were finally willing to admit science fiction could count as real literature. Ursula's work was complex and didn't shy away from exploring the darker sides of humanity, but there are always hope in there, too. She believed in the power of art to change individuals and, through that, to change society.
Next time you see a show that challenges you, take a moment when the lights come up before you go back to your ordinary life, and think about Scrooge and his third, most important lesson: take what you just saw, even though it wasn’t real, and let it change the way you live in the real world.
