There is only one actor on stage for Las Cruces Community Theatre’s current production of “A Christmas Carol,” but all the characters and all the magic of this most iconic and beloved of holiday stories are there as well.
Norman Lewis gives a five-star performance as he transforms from the guy sweeping the theater to become the story’s author and the evening’s presenter, Charles Dickens, and then becomes Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Jacob Marley’s ghost, Tiny Tim, Mrs. Cratchit, Scrooge’s nephew, the spirits of Christmas past, present and yet to come and many of the other figures (24 characters in all) that have become so real and so important to us each holiday season.
You can feel the chill of Scrooge’s bed chamber, hear the rattle of Marley’s chains and feel the heartbreak of Bob Cratchit and the innocence of Tiny Tim as Lewis brings to these cherished roles all his 40 years of experience as a professional actor on Broadway and in theaters and playhouses across the country.
He is a master at work.
As Dickens defined the true meaning of Christmas when he wrote his novella in 1843, Lewis has brought his marvelous tale to life in Las Cruces 2021 at a time when we so badly need to be reminded that redemption is possible and joy is all around us.
Bravo, Norman, and thank you.
Remaining performances of “A Christmas Carol” are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 10-11 and 17-18; and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12 and 19. (Dec. 19 is the 178th anniversary of the day “A Christmas Carol in Prose: A Ghost Story of Christmas,” was published.)
Tickets are $17 for adults; $14 for seniors, students and military; $10 for children ages 12 and under; and $5 for student rush tickets. LCCT offers a 10 percent discount if you buy six or more tickets and a 20 percent discount if you buy 10 or more tickets to a single performance.
Opening night was either a sellout crowd or very close, so making reservations online at www.lcctnm.org is recommended.
LCCT is located at 313 N. Main St. Downtown.
Call LCCT at 575-523-1200.
