By Reena Dutt
Arizona Daily Wildcat
December 2, 1997

Christmas by Gaslight

Photo courtesy of Gaslight Theater Arizona Daily Wildcat Ebenezer Scrooge (David Orley) fears the skinny hand of the ghost of Jacob Marley (Tim Gilbert) in Gaslight Theatre's production of "A Christmas Carol."

The Gaslight Theatre does it again - a full house for another performance of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." Peter Van Slyke's adaptation of the play transforms the Christmas classic into a musical full of warm fuzzies and conservative humor.

The Gaslight Theatre seems to be selling out every performance lately, especially for the Christmas season. It has strategically built its reputation since 1976 as one of the most reputable theaters in the southwest. Its founder, Tony Terry Jr., is a University of Arizona alumnus who formed the theater troupe with the help of his peers. Originating in Skagway, Alaska, the group evolved to become The Gaslight Theatre, ultimately changing locations three times, ending up at Broadway and Kolb in Tucson.

The theater is decorated in a western motif, as are the employees. The 21-year-old theater is not an ordinary entertainment facility. Nobody goes to the Gaslight Theatre to sit in post-modern, silent formality. Instead, the audience remains in a relatively informal setting, talking amongst themselves and to the performers on stage, who help in creating an interactive link with their guests - definitely a unique experience.

The first thing a Gaslight-virgin experiences are the hoots and boos of the audience at the performers. For example, in the traditional Gaslight winter performance, "A Christmas Carol," when Ebenezer Scrooge, played by David Orley, makes his first entrance, the audience automatically hisses and boos, knowing that Scrooge is the play's bad guy. When other characters display a negative attitude towards Scrooge during the middle of the performance, the audience applauds them.

Another positive attribute the Gaslight offers is excellent use of the performance area. Although the stage seems small, the scenic designer, Tom Benson, uses the space creatively, with the help of fabric backdrops. The material hangs from the ceiling, creating a setting that is easy to change between scenes. In the first act of the performance, Scrooge nears the front door of his home, only to see the face of his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley, glowing where the door-knocker once was. The door is actually created from a chiffon-type material, making the illusion possible when a light shines on the face of the actor playing Marley, who stands behind the fabric.

Other simple special effects, such as fog and fishwire, are used to create illusions of randomly appearing bodies and moving furniture on the stage. The best special effect that is used for the show is surprisingly simple: good actors. Every actor on stage gives a great performance. The acting quality remains at the same intensity throughout the story, something that many Tucson theaters lack.

It is almost expected that the Gaslight Theatre will have a successful performance run for every show. The only downfall is the fact that several actors appear in every Gaslight show as the lead characters, something that is commonly associated with high-school drama. New actors are hard to come by in significant roles on the Gaslight stage. Putting the lack of performance opportunity for fresh faces aside, though, the Gaslight Theatre has again met expectations with this year's run of "A Christmas Carol."

"A Christmas Carol" runs through January 3, 1998 at the Gaslight Theater, 7010 E. Broadway Blvd. For showtimes, ticket prices, or more information, call the theater at 886-9428.