Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Carole Mikita Reporting William Shakespeare is sporting a Santa hat these days, at least at the Utah Shakespearean Festival.
Charles Dickens, Scrooge, 1940's radio music and commercials are all part of the show in Cedar City.
The Utah Shakespearean Festival takes you behind-the- scenes once again for "A Christmas Carol On the Air."
Fred Adams, "Scrooge": "Wonderful musical numbers, original, written for the show. Some wonderful on-air interviews and news clips. It's the recreation, literally, the recreation of how the radio used to be done."
If you don't recognize this version, the script was actually taken from a serialized magazine version that Charles Dickens wrote before his novel: "If I had my will, every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas', would be boiled in his own pudding..."
Taking center stage at nearly 76, is festival founder, Fred Adams. So how much longer can he keep this up?
Fred Adams: "It depends on a couple of my friends, Al Heimer or Arthur Itis. But at the present time I'm loving it and would do it as long as they want me. I do feel, however, that they might find a better scrooge, but they won't find a meaner scrooge." (He make a mean face.)
The show began as an experiment a few years ago, but it has grown in popularity. Audiences request it. They say they need both a good reminder of the true meaning of the season and a good laugh.
"A Christmas Carol on the Air" continues through Monday, December 18th. Five more performances will be held at the Randall L. Jones Theatre in Cedar City.
