A Christmas Story Ovando Style

OVANDO - What do you get when you take Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol," have it rewritten by Adrian Barradell, adapt it to the town of Ovando and add local students and community members? You get this year's Ovando School Christmas play that had the Ovando School gym packed with members of the community and a chorus of laughter throughout the whole performance.

With the help of six community members, the nine Ovando students and their three teachers, the audience was taken through "A Christmas Carol" set in Ovando, Mont. With such a small cast, all of the actors played multiple parts except Macy Williams who played Ebenezer Scrooge.

When Jacob Marley, played by community member Lorna Kovatch, returned from the dead to visit his old business partner Scrooge, he said, "Don't let your fate be the same as mine [wearing this chain around my neck for eternity]. I'm forever condemned to walk the streets of Missoula."

This was only the beginning of the local flavor and wit that was sprinkled throughout the production. Local humor, jokes that were a play on words and education gone backwards all tied into the class play and kept the audience entertained during set changes.

Charles Dickens, played by Head Teacher Leigh Ann Valiton, encouraged the audience to "Boo" Scrooge every time he would enter the stage. As foretold by Marley, the three ghosts of Christmas past, Christmas present and Christmas yet-to-come visited him. Each spirit showed Scrooge scenes from his life. After being changed by what he saw, on his last entry on the stage, without prompt, the audience cheered.

The program acknowledgements noted, "This year has been a challenge to put on a play. However, in true Ovando style, many of the community members volunteered their time and talents so that this production could happen. The support that is given to the Ovando School is special and unique. The staff, students and parents are very grateful and appreciate all the support we continue to receive."