"Christmas Carol'd" at Performance Network puts new spin on the classic

Actor John Seibert, who previously appeared as Scrooge in the Network's production of “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol,” dons the scowl and nightcap once again in Zettelmaier’s “Carol’d” adaptation, alongside four other actors. Seibert also played the character in a fundraising reading at the Network last December, so director David Wolber and Zettelmaier had him in mind throughout the adaptation process.

“Part of the reason I’m drawn to John’s take on Scrooge is that he’s less of a caricature,” said Wolber. “We all have Scrooge in us, and I think (Seibert’s) journey and portrayal of that is accessible, and lets us realize that we’re more like Scrooge than we like to think. He’s not just an ogre that turns into a nice guy, like he is in a lot of versions.”

Last December’s reading of “Carol” inspired the Network to pursue a new adaptation, and Zettelmaier, who’d also performed in the reading, landed the gig. This led to him drawing the curtains and blasting Christmas music while working on the script this past summer.

“When (Zettelmaier and I) were looking at the original text, we were both struck by how much of Dickens’ voice is completely left out of play,” said Wolber. “When it’s turned into play, they often just keep the dialogue.”

For this reason, Zettelmaier tried to re-establish a link to the original story’s language, as well as highlight some moments that aren’t normally depicted in stage versions of “Carol.” But these aren’t the only elements that make “Carol’d” distinct.

“The fun thing is, there are things that Dickens hints at but doesn’t go into, and I decided to go into them,” said Zettelmaier. “In the book, you don’t know why Scrooge became Scrooge. He just is that way. So I thought, why don’t we see how he became this man?”

Wolber confesses that the Network has taken calls from patrons who want to know why they should see yet another take on Dickens’ tale.

“Our version … is not like the Disney film version that’s out right now, with lots of bells and whistles,” said Wolber. “It’s a low-tech theater version about the heart of the story, and 5 actors taking on 40 roles, with a theatricality that’s fun and fast-paced.”

There might be more laughs than you might expect, too, since Zettelmaier calls Seibert “one of the funniest actors I’ve ever worked with.”

“Even his scowl makes me laugh,” said Zettelmaier. “To paraphrase something (local lighting and set designer) Dan Walker said after seeing ‘Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol,’ leave it to John Seibert to find a new way to say, ‘Bah, Humbug.’”

PREVIEW “Christmas Carol’d” Who: Performance Network. What: Local playwright Joseph Zettelmaier’s new stage adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic story, which uses only five actors in the telling. Where: 120 East Huron Street. When: Thursday-Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m., November 19-December 27 (preview performances run November 19-26). How much: $27-$41. Info: 734-663-0681 or the Performance Network web site.

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.