A New Take on Dickens

from Northern Express - Nov. 21, 2022

Astrology

Local entertainer and magician Ben Whiting might not be the person he is today without Charles Dickens. At the age of 18, his life took a new direction after he experienced an elegant, simple production of A Christmas Carol in Atlanta. The power of both the story and the performances made such an impact on him that it started a lifelong passion for storytelling, which took him to training in Chicago, then living and working in Traverse City, and now touring and performing internationally as an actor and speaker.

But this time of year, it’s always Dickens that returns to Whiting’s mind, not unlike the Ghost of Christmas Past. Whiting has been wrestling with the famous text for over 10 years and has adapted versions for seven, then three actors. For a twist—and for one performance only—this year he’ll be

“Dickens always started off his public readings by asking the audience to imagine that they were in a living room sitting around a Christmas fire to hear a tale told. And he would invite them to be a part of it and give expression to their emotions,” Whiting explains.

performing all the story’s characters while also leading the narration in a new one-man special, A Christmas Carol in Prose.

“I just keep trying to distill it into its pure essence,” Whiting says.

What keeps him fascinated with the nostalgic allegory that has become one of the most wellknown stories in the English language? “The emotional truths are always there, you know, when we can see the world from other people’s perspectives. When we can identify with someone else’s story, we care for them,” he adds.

Taking place on Thursday, Dec. 1, at 6pm at Historic Barns Park in Traverse City, Whiting’s evening of oratory and magical touches will offer a brisk, one-hour retelling of the classic tale to benefit the nonprofit Parallel 45 Theatre, of which Whiting is a founding member. Artistic Director Kit McKay directs the family-friendly event. The $75 ticket includes appetizers from Sugar2Salt catering and an open bar of wine and beer. (Children 12 and under are $15.)

A festive holiday atmosphere will be intentionally set, as Whiting’s tradition is based on Dickens himself, who performed a version of A Christmas Carol live over a hundred times in his life.

“Dickens always started off his public readings by asking the audience to imagine that they were in a living room sitting around a Christmas fire to hear a tale told. And he would invite them to be a part of it and give expression to their emotions,” Whiting explains. “He wanted audiences to

go on the journey with him, and I do too!”

Whiting’s passion for Dickens is contagious and serious, honed over years of script work, inspiration from research and books, and revisiting recordings and adaptations. This performance is part of a process of playwriting that began decades earlier, and he’s glad to be returning to Parallel 45 Theatre, which produced his very first version of A Christmas Carol in 2012.

Whiting adds, “When I read the original texts from start to finish, I get the exact same goosebumps, and I can feel the hairs coming up on my arms. Certain moments are just a fountain of emotional truths.”