A Christmas Carol

Almost everyone now knows that Tyler, Alexander and Scott performed in a musical version of A Christmas Carol on December 7, 8, and 9.  I have not written about the play until now partly because I have just been so emotional about the whole thing.  I also have been very busy!

Tryouts for the production were in JUNE.  They began practicing in SEPTEMBER. So in many ways, the production has completely and totally monopolized our lives the past four months.  The boys practiced every Tuesday night from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and most Saturdays.  When they were not at "formal" rehearsals, they were practicing their lines at home.  We listened to the CD in our car. We read The Christmas Carol.  We watched three different movie versions.  The list goes on and on.  The truth is that all five of us have almost the entire work memorized.

The play, which was put on by our church, was truly something special.  I'm amazed how many people came together and used their God given talents to tell Dickens' amazing story.  From the costume designers to the set builders to the actors to the musicians, everyone was amazingly professional.  There were five separate performances, with approximately 1700 people at each performance.  Tickets to the show cost $15.  All profits went to Save The Mothers, an organization working to reduce mother/infant mortality rates in Africa.  For the boys, it was truly an experience they will never forget.  I can't begin to express how proud I was of all three of them. 

The other highlight of the experience was that the daughter of dear Foreign Service friends, named Emily, was able to attend the show.   Emily has a rare, neuro-degenerative disease called MLD.  It is truly a miracle that she was able to come to the play . . . and it meant the WORLD to us.  I still get teary-eyed when I think about everything that had to happen for her to attend.

Several people have asked for a dvd copy of the play . . . that is probably not going to be possible (due to copyright issues).  I do, however, have a few video clips that might be of interest to some of you.

The first is a news clip that ran on Toronto local news the week prior to the show:

The following are 4 different scenes that feature the Cratchit Family:

I wish I could post all the photos I have from the play . . . but I will attempt to be a minimalist and only post my favorite 10 photos.  Some were taken by me and others were taken by a professional photographer.  I sincerely wish each and everyone of you could have been at the show.  One of my favorite aspects of Foreign Service life is that we are constantly in situations where we get to try different things, meet new people, and to just experience life.  Without question, being involved with this production will be one of the highlights of our time in Toronto!