For the first time in its history, the Los Altos Stage Company is staging “A Christmas Carol, A Ghost Story of Christmas,” set to open Friday and run through Dec. 21 at the Los Altos Bus Barn Theater.
The classic Charles Dickens tale follows cranky Ebenezer Scrooge, who undergoes a Christmas transformation after visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come, along with his deceased business partner Jacob Marley.
Director Kristin Walter said a challenging aspect of the adaptation was dealing with the small theater’s space constraints.
“The play, as it’s originally written, has about 20 people in it, maybe more, with an ensemble of ghosts. But we can’t fit that many people on our stage. So I pared it way down,” Walter said.
Los Altos Stage Company’s rendition features 10 cast members. All of them – except Gary Landis, who plays Scrooge – have been cast as ghosts and double as other characters in the play.
“I think the ghosts, as far as Christmas Present and Past and Future, have always been something that people kind of gravitate toward,” said Landis, also Los Altos Stage Company’s artistic director. “This production builds on that even more.”
He added that the ghost-heavy adaptation also helps preserve the play’s wholesome story arc.
“This adaptation and the way that it’s being approached really focused on the idea that the ghosts themselves are intent on helping Scrooge find his way back to humanity,” he said.
Another challenge posed by the theater’s small stage, Walter said, is that everything is “in full view.”
“We’ve got moving walls. … (One) whole wall spins and creates three different, distinct areas. We’ve got trap doors, the fireplace raises up and that’s where Jacob Marley makes his first entrance. There’s just a lot of cool stuff going on,” Walter said.
Snow and fog will also figure into the production – design elements Walter said will create an immersive viewing experience.
Behind the scenes, Walter and Landis noted that the cast quickly developed a tight-knit bond.
“We laugh a lot,” Walter said of the atmosphere on set.
She added that, in addition to already being familiar with all the actors on set, the project has become somewhat of a family affair as well; her husband Chris Mahle and son Max Mahle are in the play.
But what brings the play full circle for Walter is its political relevance.
“When ‘A Christmas Carol’ was first published, it prompted a lot of charitable donations, and as it has become super ubiquitous over the years… we have kind of forgotten to see ourselves in Scrooge, but we are all a little bit Scrooge …” the director said.
Walter added that she hopes the production will inspire generosity as “we live in a society that has unrepentant billionaires and people who are hoarding their money while other people starve.”
“A Christmas Carol” previews at 8 p.m. Friday and opens at 8 p.m. Saturday. The initial matinee is set for 3 p.m. Sunday. The Bus Barn Theater is located at 97 Hillview Ave.
For more showtimes, visit the LASC website at losaltosstage.org. Tickets are $25-$48, except for the pay-what-you-can preview.
