Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Pine Island Playhouse

The phrase "it takes a village" comes to mind when you attend a production at the Pine Island Playhouse. The cast of its current show A Christmas Carol includes 27 people. Another five or six make up the crew. Heading it all is Nichole Pichon who wrote the script, directed, designed the set, and serves as part of the stage crew. This talented young woman is a village all by herself.

This production is the most ambitious to date for the community theater group. The sets and costumes are more elaborate. This has lead to lots of carefully choreographed set changes. The dialogue Pichon has tasked her amateur thespians to master is plenteous and true to the time period of 1843. In other words, not typical speech for Pine Islanders. They acquit themselves remarkably well.

Pichon has made a smart, cross-gender casting move in choosing Tonya Player to portray Ebenezer Scrooge. Player manages to evoke sympathy for the disagreeable protagonist.

Also standouts are Tom Crosby as Scrooge's deceased partner Jacob Marley and Pichon's real life husband Paul as Scrooge's ever optimistic nephew.

Three performances remain: 7 p.m. on Dec. 15 and 16 and 2 p.m. on Dec. 17. There is no admission charge but donations are encouraged. The show is held at the former sanctuary of the Pine Island United Methodist Church. 5701 Pine Island Rd. NW., Bokeelia, FL 33922.