John Hardy’s The Christmas Carol Comes to Middlesex on December 8

Nationally known and acclaimed actor, writer and director, John Hardy, will bring his widely popular one-man adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” to the stage of Middlesex High School for two performances on Dec. 8, 2019.

The Middlesex County Museum & Historical Society received a grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and along with financial support from the Kiwanis and Art in the Middle will collaboratively sponsor this production.

This not-to-be-missed piece of holiday theatre will be enjoyed by all (although, not appropriate for children under 12).

The Dec. 8 performances are scheduled for 1 and 3 p.m.

The tickets ($15 for adults; $10 for students) will be sold at the door, beginning 30 minutes before each performance that lasts 75 minutes.

The play follows the book, scene by scene.

“Even though it is the same story as the book, the experience of actually watching an actor move through the events of a play is vastly different than simply hearing the story or reading the book. I get entirely caught up in the story as I am doing the play, and the audience goes right along with me.”

The actor adapted the famous holiday story of ghosts and redemption into the one-man play starring himself which he has since performed in venues nationwide about 70 times.

His production has been widely acclaimed by reviewers.

“John Hardy’s one-man version of A Christmas Carol… a stunning work of theatrical virtuosity. Run to see this; take the whole family. You will be transfixed from the first moment…. This play brings the story to life…. I’ve seen this story many times but never like this… it will be as if you are seeing it for the first time”. — THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL; Dec., 2012

“Masterfully crafted each role and brought them to life in a way that is always appropriately funny, sweet, or grave. At times it was easy to forget there was only one actor on stage the entire time.” (leedaily.com)

“…  makes each role, no matter how small, memorable and distinct. He enthusiastically and precisely physicalizes not only the cringing Bob Cratchit but also the sneering, pipe-smoking cockney fence, Old Joe, as well as several other characters in between; each of them a delight of virtuoso acting.”  (unknown)

“…the best Bob Cratchit I have ever seen, and I have seen many. It is the first time I’ve perceived Cratchit as a person rather than an embodied idea.”  (Reviewed by Robert McKinney)

“…a pleasure to watch…, an awe inspiring performance…, riveting.”  (Virginia Commission for the Arts)

A Virginia resident, Hardy’s 30-year career has included classical roles in theatres nationwide including Off-Broadway.

He has directed over 100 productions, and his own 15 plays have been produced many times across the country and overseas.

In inviting the public to this event, Museum Director Marilyn South and AIM President Celane Roden, said, “we are so excited about being able to bring this top-quality theatrical holiday production to Middlesex. We thank the Kiwanis Club for their purchase of 140 tickets to allow many youth to attend the show. We know that this show will be filled with an audience as eager as we are to enjoy Hardy’s adaption of the beloved holiday story.”

Photo from Piedmont Virginia Community College Facebook posting.