A different note

The Youngstown Playhouseversion has 22 new songs and a somewhat darker tone.
By TRACEY D'ASTOLFO
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
To keep a holiday tradition fresh, you have to throw in a little change every now and then.
In the spirit of tradition-tweaking, the Youngstown Playhouse will offer a new -- and somewhat darker -- version of "A Christmas Carol" this year.
Robert Vargo, managing director of The Playhouse, has rewritten the play, making it a little more "serious." After 35 years of directing the play in various theaters, he decided it was time for a more realistic version of the musical.
"I wanted a more serious version because I thought other versions were too cartoonish. I like them as real characters, not caricatures. I didn't want it to be too flippant."
Same basic story
Traditionalists need not worry. The basic story is intact, and the main characters are all present, although somewhat modified.
One change Vargo made was cutting down on some of the Cratchit family scenes.
"I felt there was too much Cratchit in the other versions. That bothered me about most of the versions -- they kept dwelling on that. Everybody knows the story, so there's no use in belaboring the characters, or what goes on."
In Vargo's version, Bob Cratchit sings a song, "Tiny Crutch," after seeing Tiny Tim's crutch leaning against the fireplace, to illustrate his feelings about losing his son.
Vargo said the ghosts are also darker than in other versions but shouldn't be frightening to children.
"That was a fine line we had to walk. We certainly didn't want to make it an 'adult Christmas Carol' -- what's the point of that? It should be a family thing. I think kids will still relate to what's going on because there's still the basic story and characters."
Additional humor
Jack Betts of New Springfield, who plays Ebenezer Scrooge, said the play has some fresh humor injected.
"In some places, [Vargo's version] is much funnier. My scene that begins with Cratchit in the office is hilarious. It's heavier in some places but a lot lighter in other places."
Betts, the former drama adviser at Fitch High School, has been in two other Playhouse productions of "A Christmas Carol."
Ed O'Malley of Canfield plays Mr. Fezziwig in the production. He agrees the play has a mix of humor and darkness.
"It has a little bit more of an edge to it. The ghost parts are a little darker -- especially the Ghost of Christmas Future. It's kind of nice. I think the other one was getting kind of creaky. This one has some humor to it. It's something different."
A musical twist
Vargo has also written 22 original songs for the musical. Michael Moritz, Playhouse music director, arranged the music for the orchestra.
"Most of the songs are based on Christmas carols that you'll readily recognize when you hear the new lyrics," Vargo said.
"It will start off, for example, as 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,' but then it will go somewhere else. Of course, the lyrics are part of the ongoing action of the play and whatever the story line is at that point."
Grant Robert Kurz, 10, of Canfield, who is playing Tiny Tim for the second year in a row, said the songs are the best part.
"You can actually taste the song about the vendors selling Christmas candy, brandies and fresh-killed poultry!" he said.
Although there are 22 songs in the play, Vargo said the songs are shorter than in other versions.
Cast members will perform some of the songs at Borders Books in Niles at noon Saturday.