The Methacton High School Theater Company’s performances of A Christmas Carol took place on Nov. 14, 15 and 16 this year. High school students who attended the show may have spotted unfamiliar faces on stage. That is because the cast this year was filled out with younger Methacton students.

There are roles in A Christmas Carol too young to be played by high school students: Helen (a relative of the narrator Charles Dickens), Charley (another Dickens family member), The Child (an embodiment of Dickens’ creativity), Young Ebenezer Scrooge (the younger version of the protagonist), and Tiny Tim (a famous character whose sickliness is one of the most prominent reasons for Scrooge’s character change). Dozens of younger siblings, family members, and family friends gathered to audition for the handful of roles on Sept.11.

“Auditions were pretty nice,” recalled the actress who played the role of Helen. She noted, “I was a little bit nervous.”

So many Kindergarten through eighth-grade students auditioned for the show that ensemble roles for the children were added to the cast. The Carolers were mostly younger students, and the Children’s Ensemble was completely made up of non-high-schoolers. All of the Carolers had lines, and the Children’s Ensemble participated in a short dance.

One of the Carolers contributed to the show in a special way: she played the violin in a handful of scenes. She thought that playing her instrument in the production was “finicky but fun”, explaining that she was scared sometimes but still enjoyed the experience. She liked scenes such as the Carolers’ first scene, in which she accompanied them as they sang the classic carol We Wish You A Merry Christmas.

The children enjoyed the production. “I really like the costumes,” said another Caroler. The costumes in the show were period-based on Victorian England. Most male characters wore suits with vests, while female characters wore intricate dresses. Some of the dresses had hoop skirts.

High school students were paired with young cast members in a buddy program. “I personally think it is an amazing program for both the high schoolers and the kids,” said freshman Ali Sabinske. 

“It’s great practice for if the high schoolers want to work with kids in the future and it also lets the kids feel more comfortable,” Sabinske added, and further mentioned that the program helped to make the kids feel more engaged with the older cast members.

The young cast liked the buddy program, as well. “I like how our buddy gets to show us everything about the high school,” a seventh-grade Caroler said.

Many of the younger students were eager to continue their theatrical journeys after A Christmas Carol concluded. “Theater all the way,” the actor who played The Child said. “I’m going to be on Broadway.”