‘Christmas Chaos’ production a sendup of Dickens’ holiday fare

Chaos and comedy build on the renowned “A Christmas Carol” tale in a play called “A Christmas Chaos” beginning in Carson City on Nov. 30.The bones of the novel, originally penned by Charles Dickens, are altered in a satirical script by Michael Wehrli that will be performed by Proscenium Players Inc. six times during the holiday season.It will be at the Brewery Arts Center’s Maizie Jesse Harris Theater on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9. “It’s a funny script,” said Tom Jacobs, who plays a stage manager named Lyssa. Jacobs said rehearsals are “going pretty well” for the complex play featuring frenetic shenanigans.“The play is a hilarious backstage comedy that pokes fun at the classic novel and everything that can go wrong with a theatrical production,” Jacobs explained.The plot revolves around an intrepid, yet hapless, group of thespians and technicians trying to mount their version of “A Christmas Carol” after The Royal Shakespeare Company doesn’t show up as scheduled.Backstage mayhem combines with flubs, confusion and conflicting egos, all of those intertwined with an out-of-control director in the fast-paced comedy. The actual director of the PPI production is Monty Wolf, not to be confused with the actor Dan Shoup playing a director named Donovan who tries to oversee the hapless troupe of thespians.Scrooge, script name Gregory, is being played by Geoff Moore, but there also is a young Scrooge named Pamela , who actually is Heidi C. Hampton.The ghosts of Christmas Past and Christmas Present are each played by Trina Olson, script name Sara; Christmas Future is handled by actor Michelle Meyer, script name Nan.A couple of actors vying for the role of Tiny Tim, named Marina and Ryan in the script, are played by Anna and T.J. Vannucci. Marley is played by Melissa Mauer, stage name Linda. She and several other members of the Proscenium Players’ cast handle more than one role. Tickets for general admission are $18, but $15 for students, seniors, and members of either the BAC or PPI. Shows the Friday and Saturday evenings of Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 7 and 8 begin at 7:30 p.m. The Sunday matinees on Dec. 2 and 9 start at 2 p.m.