An ever-growing family helps this ‘Carol’ sing

By Rich Fahey

BEVERLY —  Hundreds of actors may have come and gone since the North Shore Music Theatre started performing its own adaptation of Charles Dickens’  “A Christmas Carol” in 1989, but even those whose stays were brief have always been considered part of a family that has created an enduring North Shore tradition.

The adaptation that has been seen by more than one million people was the brainchild of the theater’s longtime executive producer Jon Kimbell, assisted by David James and David Zoffoli of the theater staff.

This year, a total of 31 actors and 10 onstage musicians will be involved in the annual production that begins its run on Dec. 7, ending Dec. 23. And sitting at the head of the lovingly decorated Christmas table are two actors – David Coffee as Ebenezer Scrooge and Cheryl McMahon as Mrs. Fezziwig and Mrs. Dilber — marking their 29^th appearances in the show.

They – along with five other actors who have become familiar faces and a trumpet player who trumps everyone when it comes to the number of times he has been part of the production – 30 – are a large reason the show has thrived through the decades and shows no signs of slowing down.

Leigh Barrett is marking her 13^th appearance as the Ghost of Christmas Past and Mrs. Cratchit. Russell Garrett is playing her husband Bob Cratchit for the 12^th time, while J.T. Turner marks his 13^th time playing Mr. Fezziwig and one of the philanthropists who calls on Scrooge. Tommy Labanaris is rejoining the show and playing the Narrator for the seventh time in 10 appearances while Bronson Norris Murphy is Scrooge’s nephew Fred for the seventh time. Trumpet player Jay Daly is part of the orchestra for the 30th time.

Mike Ceceri, the theater’s longtime director of marketing, has compiled an extensive database about those who have been part of the casts through the years. He notes that 10 of the actors in this year’s production are making their debuts.

Coffee and McMahon are part of the show’s unofficial Welcome Wagon, especially when it comes to helping the newbies settle in.

“I do feel David and I are like the mom and pop of the gang,” said McMahon. “It’s so rare to have  a show that runs so long and so successfully.”

For Texas resident Coffee, it is a bit of a family reunion, catching up with friends he only gets to see once a year. “How have you been? What shows have you been doing?”

He treasures the shout-outs and messages he gets on Facebook from those who have been part of the production in the past, and especially those who have returned with their own children.

Through the years, Coffee and McMahon have polished their scenes together as Scrooge and his beleaguered housekeeper Mrs. Dilber until they are pure comic gold. In the same way, Coffee and Garrett as Bob Cratchit have tweaked and tinkered through the years and let the audience tell them what works.

“I don’t know what I’d do if suddenly Russell wasn’t there,” said Coffee. “I’d have to build a whole new character from scratch.”

Garrett said Coffee sets a standard and the rest of the cast naturally follows. “He comes in and inhabits his character.  From the first day of rehearsal he will give you his opening night performance. I have to up my game because he’s already there and elevates everyone in the room to try and meet him.”

Garrett and Barrett have their own challenges as the head of the Cratchit clan; this year they’ll work with two different casts of children.

Barrett said she and Garrett try and strike a balance when it comes to their performances. “We want it to be familiar – that traditional Christmasy holiday story – but we also want it to be fresh, new and exciting.”

Barrett has, as an actor, always thought of herself as a storyteller. “I just want to find a way to get the story out there. “

Trumpet virtuoso Daly, who has been a professional musician since 1980, believes the musical score – which includes vintage carols and original music composed by former NSMT staffers Alby Potts and James Woodland.  – is the “heart and soul” of the show.

He detailed the evolution of the orchestra through the years from a single keyboard to the present 10-piece orchestra that provides a full, lush accompaniment.

Daly also treasures being in full costume onstage and being considered a performer, dressing with and interacting with the other cast members.

“We usually enter via the basement and go into the (orchestra) pit and have no chance to interact with the actors,” he said. “And the actors are a lot of fun.”

Barrett’s vocal skills add to the musical magic when as the Ghost of Christmas Past she performs “A Dream Within a Dream,” and then, amidst the tragedy of Tiny Tim, the heartbreaking “The Little Child” in Act II, which moves many theater-goers to tears.

McMahon’s bawdy rendition of “Isn’t it Grand, Boys” as Mrs. Dilber is another Act II highlight.

Dancing is another hugely important component of the piece. As part of his adaptation, Kimbell created the characters of two “pearlies,” mysterious, acrobatic spirits loosely based on the street buskers of London. This season they are portrayed by Drew Porrett and Michael Olaribigbe.

Director and Choreographer Kevin P. Hill, the theater’s producing artistic director,  has seen to it the large cast is always merrily in motion in the brisk opening number, Mr. Fezziwig’s Christmas Eve party and the couples dancing at nephew Fred’s celebration.

Young actors are vital to this show’s success, and young people are finding ways to stay with the production; as they age, there are new opportunities.

For the past two years, Daly also has had the privilege of watching daughter Adalyn perform in the show, as an 11-year-old in 2022 playing Fan, Scrooge’s sister, and this year portraying Belinda Cratchit.

Coffee said it has been fun to watch young actors move up. He worked with Quinn Murphy as Tiny Tim; now he’s throwing coins to him as one of the Turkey Boys who fetch the giant turkey meant for the Cratchits.

,“We’re on our third generation of performers now,” said McMahon. “We take it for granted that the show is so well-received each year.”

McMahon’s twins Colin and Bonnie have been part of several productions  through the years, with the latest in 2010 when Bonnie played Belle and Meg.  

Garrett said some of the young actors he’s working with this year first saw the show as a student at a local school and now are part of the company.

“With all of the young people involved it does feels like a family getting together during the holidays,” said Barrett.

Another aspect of the show that many believe has led to its success is the very spirited – pun intended – special effects, including the dramatic entrance of chain-rattling Jacob Marley (Carrington Vilmont this year), which often sends younger theater-goers scurrying to seek shelter with Mom or Dad.

Garrett said he has seen how Marley’s entrance definitely gets the attention at the morning shows packed with students from local schools.

For all the unbridled joy that will eventually emanate from the transformation of Coffee’s Scrooge, the production does – just like Charles Dickens’ novella – have its fair share of darkness and loss.

“It goes to those dark places,” said McMahon. “It doesn’t shy away. We know early on it’s going to be a rocky ride.”

Coffee is already in character with his head down when he strides quickly through the theater lobby, ready to make his entrance.  And when he gets his customary ovation on taking the stage, it reminds him of what is expected.

One night in one of the early years of the show’s run, a blizzard hit, and Coffee decided to stay on after the end of the show to go around the stage and thank those who had still come out.

After joining the show, Garrett found just how iconic Coffee’s performance had become. “After the curtain call and we’d all left the stage, I looked around and asked ‘where’s David?’ He was still taking his victory lap.”

Coffee scaled back the tradition when the show resumed its annual performances after the height of the pandemic, but now loves how it recharges his batteries. “Going around the theater, catching up with old friends telling me how many times they’ve seen the show, it’s just like the final scene of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’”

NSMT owner Bill Hanney, who made reviving this production one of his first orders of business after buying the theater out of bankruptcy in 2009, has said in the past the show is “near and dear to his heart” and he hopes to keep it going as long as Coffee wants to do it.

For her part, McMahon treasures her time in the show. “It’s a total gift.”