Scrooge Visits The Old Whalers’ Church In ‘A Gilbert & Sullivan Christmas Carol’

On Sunday, December 22, at 3 p.m., Ebenezer Scrooge, literature’s most famous grouch, will make a one-time-only appearance in Sag Harbor in “A Gilbert & Sullivan Christmas Carol” at Old Whalers’ Church.

This unique retelling of Charles Dickens’ beloved Christmas classic is performed by the Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island, a troupe of professional singing actors. The show’s 25th anniversary production will be directed by Gayden Wren, who will play the role of Scrooge for the first time.

“It’s an iconic role, no matter what form the story takes,” Wren said. “There’s a little Scrooge in any director.”

Wren also wrote the book and lyrics, inspired by the lyrics of W.S. Gilbert, which are still set to the tunes of Arthur Sullivan. Those who are familiar with “The Mikado” or “The Pirates of Penzance” will recognize the songs “Three Little Maids from School” and “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General” in “Three Little Ghosts for Scrooge” and “I Am the Very Model of the Mystic Supernatural.”

The anniversary production features S.E. Holliday as Bob Cratchit, Laurie Baach as Emily Cratchit, Catherine Diakou as Tiny Tim, Christian Jurak as the Ghost of Marley, Darby Maxwell as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Sydney Matuszak as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Delaney Page as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, Jonathan Quarant as Young Scrooge, Richard Risi as Young Marley, Kara Vertucci as Belle, Joseph Weitekamp as Fred, Kenneth Kopolovicz as Mr. Goodman and Karina Vartanian as Cheapside Jackie. Hannah Roth plays Belinda Cratchit and Olivia Maio plays Peter Cratchit, with Isabella and Noah Mulcahy as Sarah and Simon Cratchit. Stanley Bergman and Nan Magna play Uncle Tim and Aunt Eadie. Martin Fuller is the narrator and Thomas Z. Shepard the pianist. Stephen O’Leary is the show’s music director.

The Old Whalers’ Church is a National Historic Landmark. In a letter dated October 1, 1843, held by the John Jermain Memorial Library, a construction laborer named Edward R. Merrall wrote to his mother that framing of the building was underway but it was not yet enclosed. Coincidentally, in the same month, Charles Dickens found himself facing financial difficulty and was casting about for an idea for a story he could write and publish quickly. By the middle of October, he had come up with “A Christmas Carol,” which he wrote in six weeks and had to pay his usual publisher to print. It was published December 19. The church was dedicated five months later, May 16, 1844.

“A Gilbert & Sullivan Christmas Carol” will take place at the Old Whalers’ Church, 44 Union Street, Sag Harbor, on Sunday, December 22, at 3 p.m. General admission tickets are $25 ($15 ages 12 and under) and may be purchased at the church office Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or by calling 631-725-0894. Online tickets are being sold through Eventbrite.com. Links to online ticket sales can be found at the Old Whalers’ Church Facebook page or oldwhalerschurch.org. The performance is two hours, with one intermission.