MUlTINATIONAL COMMUNITY

    "A Christmas Carol", one of the most popular English plays, was written by Charles Dickens in 1843. It tells the story of Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and an array of ghosts who teach cantankerous Ebenezer Scrooge the true meaning of Christmas.

    Last September, Beijing Playhouse held open auditions after advertising in newspapers. About 70 people applied for roles, and 30 English speaking actors from 12 countries were selected.

    Verrill said all of them were chosen based on their ability to perform the role. No preference was given in terms of nationality -- the sole criterion was whether the actors could perform in English.

    "The cast and crew of 'A Christmas Carol' are a mixture of theatre veterans with about 30 years of Hollywood experience, working alongside actors who are making their stage debut," said Verrill.

    The multinational cast included actors from China, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, France, the Philippines, Bangladesh, India, Niger, the Netherlands and Indonesia.

    "It's a great opportunity for people from all over the world to act a play that appeals to people everywhere. In our version the Cratchit family included people from many different countries. The cast and crew are from all over the world," said Verrill.

    New Zealander Daniel Cotterall, 46, winner of New Zealand's top oratory prize at the age of 25 and an Oxford literature graduate, played the lead role of the cantankerous skinflint Ebenezer Scrooge.

    He practiced his lines and discussed his character's psychology with his 18-year-old son Carl, a young actor who saw his father cry for the first time on the stage of "A Christmas Carol" last month.

    A literature graduate, Cotterall was familiar with Charles Dickens, one of the greatest writers of the Victorian period in Britain. "Dickens was a person who loved to party and sing. Apart from being a great writer, by all accounts he was also a superb actor."

    "It's a traditional English play that reminds people of what Christmas is about and which highlights difficult social conditions," he said. "People don't really celebrate Christmas here in China, but in an international city like Beijing where lots of people understand English and are keen to have leisure and art choices, this kind of play can be successful."

    Julian Williams from Great Britain, head of BCIS, a veteran classroom performer and karate instructor, moved audiences as lovable everyman Bob Cratchit. For Williams the play was a real family effort. His wife Jenny was in charge of props back stage, and his daughter Verity and son Jeremy, two BCIS students and school theatre veterans who have played in "Peter Pan", both had roles in the play.

    Twenty-three-year-old Bruce Xi, born in Beijing and brought up in the U.S., a Caroler in the play, enjoyed the mix of cultures on the "Carol" stage. "You can hear different accents on stage, American, British, European and Chinese. It's great fun being with so many lovely people," he said.

    "My mom wanted me to do something so I came. The director keeps telling me to stay in character. It's pretty fun," said Richard Zhou, a six-year-old Chinese boy brought up in Toronto, Canada, who played the role of Tiny Tim, the most adorable character of the play.

    The rule of staying in character was a challenge for child actors like Zhou, who asked the director questions like "what if we want to go to the bathroom?" The director often had to tell the naughty children "not to move around randomly" and "no yelling backstage" during the show.

    Dana Novales, a nine-year-old girl from the Philippines, won audience hearts as the "Ghost of Christmas Past", a sweet angel leading Scrooge on a visual tour of his childhood.

    A dance lover, she could not resist doing elegant dance movements during rehearsals, causing more headaches for the director keen to "maintain discipline". But when on stage, all the children devoted themselves to the show.

    Jordan Lassoff from New York, who has been appearing in amateur productions since he was a teenager, said "A Christmas Carol" is a well-known, universal, traditional play filled with song, dance, laughter and tears.

    "This show was a real ground-breaker. People from all over the world are performing the play in English, which is pretty rare in China. This is history happening," he smiled.

    "I love performing with all kinds of actors, whether they are professional or amateur," he said. "Anybody who has the courage to stand on stage in front of hundreds of people and perform and sing and dance and act can have a wonderful experience. I'm delighted to be a part of it."

    For some, performing on stage is not just for fun but a dream. Hans Harry, an American in his 30s, "ran away from home and has been a drifter ever since" according to his self-introduction.

    He said with a grin that he took up acting to escape the reality of life and instead enjoy make-believe worlds. Harry intends to "continue doing this until I die".

    At the end of each rehearsal, cast and crew would sit on the floor and listen to director Verrill's praise and criticism. The children relaxed and began to play with each other but were often called to attention by the director.

    "You're really paying attention during the show. That's good. Let's go through my notes. I have a lot of them," the energetic director told the gathered actors.

    Applause was often heard from the other actors when Verrill praised someone for a good performance.

    "Everyone is there because they love theatre. They don't get paid. Evening rehearsals are from Sundays to Thursdays, and cast and crew have to invest time, effort and talent. Their enthusiasm and energy brings the whole community together," said Verrill, noting that they are starting to build an English-language community in Beijing.

    Stage manager Tamara Jannink not only had to cue lights and sound during the performances but also look after safety. Holding a red fire extinguisher, she taught the crew members how to use it and reminded them about emergency exits.

    "It's a safety precaution. I want all the members to be able to use it just in case an emergency occurs," Jannink said.

    Everybody seemed to have a wish to achieve during the performances. Verrill dedicated the play to his late mother Marsha Gusman "who blessed this performance in ways that no one but me can understand".