New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu


?>

 

Experience "A Christmas Carol" the Way Dickens Presented It


By Gary Wien, JerseyArts.com

originally published: 12/17/2020


Few stories connect us to the past the way “A Christmas Carol” does.  For more than 175 years, people have enjoyed watching one of the most miserable characters in the history of literature (Ebenezer Scrooge) go through a complete transformation, thanks to the miracle of Christmas.  For two weekends in December, Algonquin Arts in Manasquan presents a special one-man version of the classic tale - exactly the way Charles Dickens himself performed it for years.

“A Christmas Carol” was first published in 1843. The classic story follows Scrooge as an old man being visited by the ghost of Jacob Marley (his former business partner) followed by the three spirits Jacob warned him would come: the spirit of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come.  The spirits remind him of the person he once was, the ruthless person he had become, and what his future would be if he did not change his ways.  

By the 1850s, Dickens was reading from the text in front of thousands across the United Kingdom, even crossing the pond for a tour of America in 1867.  Using only a copy of the book as a prop, the acclaimed novelist brought the book to life with different voices and expressions for each character. 

Inspired by pandemic restrictions, Algonquin Arts will make a return to those days.

The venue regularly presents large-scale musicals for the holidays, but decided to present a more intimate show to provide a better match for the maximum capacity of 125 per performance that they are limited to because of COVID-19. Instead of being part of a large cast, Jan Topoleski will bring the characters of “A Christmas Carol” to life all on his own, just as Charles Dickens did for decades.




Reach New Jersey's largest arts & entertainment audience, click here for info on how to advertise at NJ Stage



“It’s going to be a fun and interesting show,” said Jan Topoleski. “It’s scaled down – it’s not a big massive musical like we’re used to doing here – but it’s going to be very intimate, very animated and ultimately, I hope very entertaining.”

Topoleski is the full-time technical director at Algonquin and a familiar sight on their stage. He played Ebenezer Scrooge in Algonquin's 2018 production of “A Christmas Carol: The Musical” and has also been seen there as King Arthur in “Camelot,” The Old Man in “A Christmas Story The Musical,” Juan Peron in “Evita,” Lord Farquaad in “Shrek: The Musical,” Lancelot in “SPAMALOT” and Don Quixote in “Man of La Mancha.” He has also directed numerous productions at the theatre.

The original idea for the streamed-down production came from Pamela Ward, Executive Director at Algonquin.  Topoleski, who has never performed a one-man show before, was excited at the opportunity.

“This piece offers a unique challenge, in that I am representing so many characters, as compared to a one person show where you portray only one character, or yourself. Being alone on stage means, if you make a mistake, it’s likely nobody knows it but you. On the flip side, if you make a mistake on stage, there’s no one there to help get you out of a jam,” he explained.

Virtually all of the material is taken straight out of the original text, but it’s been edited down to create a two-hour performance.  The show will come off as a hybrid between a reading and a performance piece - exactly how Dickens himself performed it.

Topoleski joined the staff of the Algonquin in 2013 after his theatre company, Shore Rep, had partnered with the venue for several seasons.  He has been involved in every aspect of their productions from producing, directing, acting, and creating sound and scenic design.  On a personal level, he says he loves the story of “A Christmas Carol.”

“I grew up with it, watching it on TV as a child, and eventually, producing a musical stage version of it every Christmas for 10 years with my old theatre company,” explained Topoleski. “So, it has played a big role in my life personally.  Universally, I think it’s just a great story. It’s got great characters, comedy, thrills, and a happy ending! We actors love to play villains and Scrooge is the ultimate villain - with a bonus -  he is redeemed at the ending and becomes a hero.”




Reach New Jersey's largest arts & entertainment audience, click here for info on how to advertise at NJ Stage



Topoleski hopes that the lack of big sets, costume, and musical numbers will let the audience focus more on the story and the characters themselves, and to allow them to better appreciate the beautifully descriptive prose of Dickens. But, most of all, he hopes it reminds people that the Algonquin is still working at presenting shows. 

“We want people to know ‘We are still here’ and excited to get back to producing and presenting the high-quality entertainment they are used to.” said Topoleski. “I think many people do want to get out, even if it is on a limited basis for now. We held an outdoor concert series this summer, and we heard positive things from many of our constituents and a strong desire by folks to get back to live performances.”

“We’re extremely fortunate to be in a position to present live events for the holidays and show that we can continue to safely share live performances with our audience,” said David Applegate, Algonquin Arts Theatre’s Director of Marketing & Public Relations. “We’ve been able to sustain through nine difficult months in part thanks to the sponsors and individual donors that have supported us, and we want to provide a return on the investment they are making not just in the future, but also right now as we close out a difficult year.”

Topoleski originally went to Boston University’s School of Fine Arts to study acting, but wound up as a professional musician and recording engineer instead. He said he became disillusioned with theatre and decided to come home to start a band.  One thing led to another, and he found himself working at Shore Fire Studios, which was owned at the time by Tom Elliot and Garry Tallent of the E Street Band. He did work for Arista and Geffen record labels and with artists such as Frankie Valli, Southside Johnny, Clarence Clemons, and Steve Forbert.

“There were too many great recording sessions to single out, but one fond memory I have is of eating pepperoncini (pickled hot Italian peppers) with Jon Bon Jovi in his basement, while helping out with a demo recording,” recalled Topoleski.  “When Garry Tallent made the move to Nashville, I was at a crossroads in my life and, through serious ‘nudging’ from my lifelong friend Gary Shaffer (director, actor, producer), I got back onstage and never looked back again.”

After 17 years away from the stage, he made a seamless return to the theatre and has acted, directed, and produced shows across the state. Before arriving at Algonquin Arts, he served as president of Strand Theater Company and Artistic Director at the Strand Theater.

Topoleski currently resides in Brick and enjoys playing in the Jersey Shore band The Snakes.

“A Christmas Carol” runs December 11-13 and December 19-20 at Algonquin Arts Theatre, 60 Abe Voorhees Drive in Manasquan, NJ. Tickets are available online at algonquinarts.org or by phone at 732-528-9211. The theatre’s box office is closed to walk-in customers for the time being.

Algonquin will also hold a live indoor concert, Chris Pinnella: Christmas in Manasquan, on December 23. Full of holiday hits and Christmas classics, Pinnella and his band will capture the spirit of the season on the Eve of Christmas Eve.




Reach New Jersey's largest arts & entertainment audience, click here for info on how to advertise at NJ Stage



The Algonquin has put a number of pandemic-related policies in place, a full list of which are available on each event listing at algonquinarts.org.  The short version is that all patrons and staff will be required to wear masks at all times in the theatre. A maximum of 125 tickets can be sold for each performance and seating will be spread across the theatre’s more than 500 seats. No front row center seats will be sold.

The theatre has also revised policies to allow patrons who must quarantine or who are not feeling well to stay home and request a refund.

Photos of "A Christmas Carol" by Michael Franken Photography




About the author: Gary Wien is a music journalist from Belmar, NJ. A three-time winner of Asbury Music’s Music Journalist of The Year, his writing and photographs have been seen in publications like Upstage Magazine, Backstreets Magazine, Gannett Newspapers, and Princeton Magazine. He is the also the author of two books: Beyond The Palace (about the history of rock music in Asbury Park) and Are You Listening? (his picks for the Top 100 Albums of 2001-2010 by New Jersey Artists) and is the publisher of New Jersey Stage magazine.

Content provided by Discover Jersey Arts, a project of the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation and New Jersey State Council on the Arts.



FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Vivid

Vivid Summer Solos: Where is Everybody?

Wednesday, July 09, 2025 @ 6:30pm
Visual Arts Center of New Jersey
68 Elm Street, Summit, NJ 07901
category: theatre


 

A

A Broadway Tour of America

Thursday, July 10, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Grunin Center - Black Box Theater
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: theatre


 

A

A Broadway Tour of America

Thursday, July 10, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Grunin Center - Black Box Theater
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: theatre


 

The

The MAC players at the Middletown Arts Center present "Hairspray"

Friday, July 11, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Middletown Arts Center
36 Church Street, Middletown, NJ 07748
category: theatre


 

A

A Broadway Tour of America

Friday, July 11, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Grunin Center - Black Box Theater
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: theatre


 


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Centenary

Centenary Stage Company presents Jimmy Buffet's "Escape to Margaritaville"

(HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company kicks off SUMMERFEST 2025 with Jimmy Buffett's Escape to Margaritaville, July 10-20 in the Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center. With a book by Emmy Award winner Greg Garcia and Emmy nominee Mike O'Malley, this production is jam-packed with the artist's most beloved classic tunes including "Cheeseburger in Paradise," "Margaritaville," "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," "Fins," "Volcano," and many more.



LoMotion

LoMotion Live presents "The Diary of Anne Frank"

(BOONTON, NJ) -- LoMotion Live is proud to present The Diary of Anne Frank, a play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman, based on the book Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. The production runs from July 18-26, 2025 at The Parsippany Arts Center in Boonton.



Art

Art House Productions to present "Hamlet" directed by C. Rashee Stevenson in October

(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Art House Productions will present a mainstage production of Hamlet, directed by C. Rashee Stevenson, from October 9–26, 2025, at the Art House Theater in Jersey City. This bold reimagining of Shakespeare's classic tragedy fuses the original text with interpolated language from Les Nègres and Les Paravents by Jean Genet and works by Federico García Lorca—transforming the play into a cosmic crime thriller that plunges deep into grief, identity, and the metaphysical.



Two

Two River Theater Announces Lineup for Their 14th Annual Crossing Borders (Cruzando Fronteras) Festival

(RED BANK, NJ) -- Two River Theater's celebrated Crossing Borders (Cruzando Fronteras) Festival of new plays by Latine playwrights will take place from Thursday, July 31 to Sunday, August 3, 2025 in the Joan and Robert M. Rechnitz Theater. Now in its 14th year, this annual event joyfully showcases the richness, diversity, creativity, and talent of Latine theater artists. All festival events are open and free to the public.



Players

Players Guild of Leonia to Hold Auditions for "Where The Time Goes"

​​​​​​​(LEONIA, NJ) -- The Players Guild of Leonia will hold auditions for Where The Time Goes on Tuesday, July 15 and Wednesday, July 16, 2025 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm each night at their theater. This is a World Premiere musical featuring the iconic songs of The Baby Boomer Generation.