Death makes a visit in Wichita Community Theatre’s ‘Christmas Spirit’
Wichita Community Theatre’s holiday production is a play that director John Dalton-White is certain that no one has heard of.
And that’s what he likes about it.
“It’s an unknown script,” Dalton-White said of “The Christmas Spirit,” which opens next week. “No one’s done it in this area, and I fell in love with it.”
The playwright, Frederick Stroppel, has no other published works, he added.
A semi-comedic version of “Death Takes a Holiday” set in modern day Long Island, the play shows 72-year-old Julia (played by Crystal Meek) early on Christmas morning, getting a visit from Death (Chris Sharkey), ready to take her to the other side.
“She talks him into coming to her home to spend Christmas,” Dalton-White said. “The only Christmas he’s heard about is from Charles Dickens. He expects Christmas to be goose and plum pudding and that. So, Julia makes a goose and plum pudding and has all the Dickens foods and pulls off Christmas with her very dysfunctional family.”
Death brings with him a young man, played by Austin Haverkamp, who has just committed suicide.
“I’ve got to remain serious and kind of somber,” Haverkamp said. “Naturally I want to join in and take part in the comedy.”
The character adds another shade to the variety of emotions in the show.
“This play runs the gamut of genres,” Dalton-White said. “It goes from high drama to black comedy to comedy to serious. It pulls at every emotion too.”
“It’s a casserole of emotions,” Meek added. “The most important thing is it’s about family and the things that can happen in family, and the regrets you have in life and the love that everyone really does have for one another.”
The play does have adult situations and language and parental discretion is advised.
“The Christmas Spirit”
When: Dec. 2-12; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays
Where: Wichita Community Theatre, 258 N. Fountain
Tickets: $15 adults, $13 seniors/military/age 60-older; $11 Thursdays, at 686-1282