Larry Yando (left, above) discusses playing the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in the Goodman Theatre production of A Christmas Carol with his "Alternate Scrooge," the Reduced Shakespeare Company's own Austin Tichenor. The two actors talk about the challenge of being haunted by the Ghost of Productions Past; how Dickens’s story continues to percolate in the off-season; how they navigate script changes, especially the little annoying ones; how Scrooge compares to some of the other great roles Yando’s played (such as Scar in The Lion King, Prospero, Roy Cohn in Angels in America); how seeing another actor play “your” role can sometimes act like “an undigested bit of beef;” why the story stays relevant year after year; the value of staying on your toes; how and why Scrooge chooses Marley over Belle; and how if A Christmas Carol ended 20 minutes earlier, it’d be King Lear. (Length 21:48)
4 Comments
Hailey B. · December 25, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Can’t wait for next year’s twisted christmas story!!!!!
austin · December 22, 2010 at 5:25 pm
(PS – Here’s what she said before her spoilers: “I had a fit of giggles while listening to this podcast!”)
austin · December 22, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Emily, I’m not going to Approve your (highly complimentary) comment, but only because you give away two major plot points! Glad you liked it, though.
Emily · December 22, 2010 at 4:31 pm
I had a fit of giggles while listening to this podcast!
“Everyone understands the rules? After the creature has been allowed a three minute head start…there are NO MORE RULES.”
“Santa Claus, gazing directly into the crosshairs of the Baron’s rifle sight, calmly removed his large red hat, smiled knowingly, and pointed a finger…at the Sasquatch.”