Christmas comes to Paradise by radio

Paradise dipped in holiday spirit Sunday when a grouchy old miser proclaimed his contempt of Christmas. Much of his life was apparently wrapped in his disdain for the holiday, but within 90 minutes at the Paradise Center, Butch Murdock changed his tune, as per the script of his character, Ebenezer Scrooge.

"Christmas Carol" has been seen on television many times and many versions, but this was the first time it was done on stage by the Paradise Players, but even then, it was done with a bit of a twist. Director Kathleen Hubka put on a radio version of the Charles Dickens' classic Christmas tale.

"Because of the uncertainty of our weather, I decided a radio play would work best for us, so we wouldn't have to drive in for rehearsals night after night," said Hubka, who directed and acted in the Paradise Players' last play, "Seven Keys to Baldpate Inn," in October. Hubka set the stage like in the old radio days, where the cast played various parts with a live audience on hand to applaud when prompted.

Sixty-two people showed up to see the six Paradise Players put on the show. Nearly all the actors took on different roles, including first time Paradise Player Hondo Ryan, one of two 16-year-olds in the cast. Ryan was happy to work on a radio play for his first one. "I'd say it's easier in a way because we're reading the script, but we have to change our voices and work on the vocals," said Ryan, who had done a couple of plays when he was really young in school and with the Missoula Children's Theatre.

Ryan played Jacob Marley, Fred Holywell, Scrooge's nephew, Man Number Two, and Tiny Tim, his favorite part. Ryan got down on his knees to help get into the role and recite his Tiny Tim lines. He said he watched the most recent rendition of "Christmas Carol" with Jim Carey to get an idea of how to play his part. When it came to play Man Number Two, he used a cane to set the mood. Hubka said Ryan did a nice job and shows a lot of promise. "He has terrific energy. He's somebody everybody wants to be around," said Hubka. Ryan said he'd like to be part of the Paradise Players in other performances.

Susannah Lindsay, also 16, was the play's narrator, but she also played Fran, Scrooge's sister, Bell, Scrooge's fiancée, Martha Cratchit, and the laundress. William Largent, 17, played Fred, Scrooge's nephew, the Ghost of Christmas Present, Man Number Four, and Mrs. Cratchit, a role that really tested his voice skills. Like Lindsay and Largent, Benjamin Winkler has done numerous gigs with the Paradise Players and for Sunday's performance, he took on the roles of Man Number One, Mr. Fezziwig, and Bob Cratchit.

Hubka served not only as director, but played various parts, including the Ghost of Christmas Past and Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, which involved speaking to Scrooge with rattles. She also played parts in the radio commercials of the fictitious Paradise Jeweler, which mentioned the real life residents Walt and Karval Pickering, and the former Paradise store, Red and White Grocery and former resident Lenore "Toad" Willcutt.

Butch Murdock was the only cast member to play only one character - Scrooge - in the show and he said he loved it. He also he sang for a commercial for the fictitious Plains Paradise Asphalt, Concrete and Snow Removal Company. Murdock has dabbled in the acting hobby since starting with the Sanders County Players in 1989. He has done several plays with the Paradise Players.

Hubka said she'd like to do more radio plays. For the Christmas Carol, she got a book from the Plains Public Library and did the radio script from it. "Some of the Paradise Players weren't available for this show, but I knew I wanted Butch Murdock to be Scrooge," said Hubka, who taught drama in high school in Nebraska for more than 40 years. She felt the Christmas Carol radio show turned out well. Lyla Sears in the audience loved the performance and said she used to listen to radio shows when she was a child. "This was nice. I just closed my eyes and pretended I was listening to the radio," said Sears.

"I think we gave people a pretty good replica of that experience. I listen to old radio shows on Sirius radio. I just love them. They really required the audience to use their imagination," said Hubka, who added that she'd like to do more holiday shows, especially at Christmas. "It's nice to do something special at Christmas time. People who might not ordinarily go to a play would consider a holiday show. I'd really like to make the Paradise Christmas production a tradition," she said. Hubka is planning an all-female cast comedy in February and possibly another play in April and a melodrama in the fall. "I am writing one, so we might do that one or chose another," said Hubka.

The Paradise Center will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday, December 26-28.