'A Christmas Carol': Troupe performing classic Dickens holiday tale

he Cratchit family reacts after the Ghost of Christmas Future tells them of the death of Tiny Tim. The actors are, from left, David McElhaney, Christy Barns, Ryan Gammill, Elizabeth Boyd and Abby Heard.
he Cratchit family reacts after the Ghost of Christmas Future tells them of the death of Tiny Tim. The actors are, from left, David McElhaney, Christy Barns, Ryan Gammill, Elizabeth Boyd and Abby Heard.

Here's a reason to have community theater.

If your child has autism but wants to act on stage, the opportunity is available.

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9/8/13 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/STEPHEN B. THORNTON Lauren McLemore, left, and Tori Fry holds hands as they skate at the Skate for the Cure event Sunday afternoon at the Arkansas Skatium. Both are members of the Diamond Edge Figure Skating Club who performed at the event. Procedds benefitted the Arkansas Chapter of Susan G. Komen For the Cure.

That's why Hunter Bates, 17, at the end of a performance of "A Christmas Carol" in Hughes Springs, Texas, last week, told the audience, "I have autism, but autism doesn't have me."

Actually, Hunter didn't say these words. He asked his director Mandy Gammill to say them for him as she gave him a special hug of appreciation during curtain call.

He smiled big as the words were said, however, and as the audience stood to applaud the 28 actors and a host of others behind the scene who are members of Community Theater of East Texas.

Community Theater, in its second year, has four stage productions behind it. The troupe currently resides in one-half of the Teel Co. building in Hughes Springs and is on track to buy this location and have a true downtown community theater, Gammill said.

CTET hopes to do several productions each year. "A Christmas Carol" is its most challenging since it is two-and-a-half hours of acting, dramatic changes of light, athletic moves to rearrange props and at lot of mental effort for the actors to stay in character.

The community theater's production concludes with five more performances this weekend. After four performances last week and five this week, everyone will rest until February.

Don't miss it. The play is a heart-warmer, especially with its local cast. You'll love the old English voices, the lustrous costumes, the occasional memory lapse, misstep or mysterious bangs from off-stage somewhere.

But you'll stand and cheer when the cast gathers at the end and sings, "God Bless Us Every One."

Here's the necessary information:

  • 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday with a special performance in fast forward time at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
  • The finale is at 2:30 p.m.
  • Tickets are $10. There are plenty of seats, perhaps 75, but it's possible the crowds may gather. Be willing to stand, if necessary. It's worth it to see the wonderful Christmas change in Ebenezer Scrooge.

Hunter and the others in the production underwent 12 weeks of rehearsal. Cast members play several parts.

Hunter's role was rewarding to everyone, Gammill said after she spoke with him and his parents to clear the following statements for the public. 

"To speak of his autism is good for positive awareness," Gammill said. "People will enjoy hearing the story.

"I've known Hunter for two years. He's wonderful and done well in Community Theater. His social skills have magnified so much with adults and kids his age or even younger.

"Hunter now speaks about his autism. I really hoped he would speak himself tonight, but he told me before going on to go ahead and speak for him."

"'I'm going to give you permission, I think you would do it better,'" Gammill said Hunter told her.

"That autism doesn't control him, but he controls autism, is something he pushes, and I'm so proud of him." 

In a "A Christmas Carol," Scrooge changes for the better. If actors and audiences in future years change for the better, too, community theater is a true Christmas blessing.

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