SHERBURNE – Sherburne Music-Theater Society will be continuing their Play Reading series with a performance of the Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol. The performance will take place on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. in the parlor at the Sherburne United Church of Christ. Directed by Colleen Law-Tefft, the cast includes Keven Simmons, Rick Thormahlen, Mike Tefft, Maggie Fitzpatrick, Rich Heim, Jenni Larchar, Donna Moren, Rose Tenney and Alex Tefft.

Based on Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol is the tale of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, who is opposed to holiday cheer and indifferent to the sufferings of the poor in Victorian London. Scrooge is visited by four ghosts, his former partner Jacob Marley, and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, who offer him the opportunity to see his life from another viewpoint and to learn to empathize with his fellow man. Through the story we eavesdrop on Scrooge’s life by traveling with him and the ghosts. He eventually realizes his failings and comes away with a renewed spirit, vowing to live a better life.

Play readings are an interesting art form akin to old time radio shows, where the actor’s vocal qualities and the sound effects come together to create the world of the play. The actors performing the reading will all take on several roles to bring the story to life, with the exception of Keven Simmons, who will be portraying the central role of Scrooge exclusively. All the performers are veteran actors and directors of SMTS shows, having appeared onstage and behind the scenes in several SMTS shows.