HOLIDAY DRAMA TO AIR ON KRCU

Cape Girardeau's public radio station will enter the world of radio theater with its own adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic novel "A Christmas Carol."

KRCU-90.9 FM will air the production, which is entirely written, produced and performed locally, several times during the holiday season beginning Dec. 22. The station's first attempt at radio drama will be recorded live in the studio Saturday.

Arthur Wilhite, an employee at the station, adapted the script directly from Dickens' novel. Although the process took over a month, he had few difficulties coming up with his own take on a work that has been adapted hundreds of times for radio, television, film and stage.

"I pretty much knew what I wanted to put in and what I wanted to take out, which was mainly long narrative passages," Wilhite said.

No radical changes are in the script, but Wilhite, who also plays Ebeneezer Scrooge, included some scenes from the novel that are frequently omitted from other versions.

"Other adaptations I've seen are made more for a family audience and leave some things out," Wilhite said. "This is geared for the family but also for a thinking man's audience."

Some scenes from the novel are often considered too disturbing, he said, but they also convey important messages and add greatly to the tale.

Marty Strohmeyer, a senior at Southeast Missouri State University and president of the University Players, directs the production. Used to directing for the stage, which requires full integration of voice and expression, Strohmeyer has been forced to alter his approach somewhat. Since radio is strictly an aural experience, in rehearsal he doesn't even look at the actors in order to focus solely on their voices.

"If I watch I get too caught up in their facial expressions," Strohmeyer said. "Pulling out just the voice, that has been my challenge but it has been a good one for me."

Strohmeyer isn't the only one having to adapt. Of the 14 actors playing the 30 characters and the two-people sound effects, some are experienced in theater and some in radio but none has backgrounds in both.

"We've shared our experiences with each other to make a very well-rounded production," Wilhite said.

Most of the actors are students at Southeast who auditioned for the production. However, two teenagers and two younger children were recruited to play the roles requiring young voices.

Jessica Hency, a sophomore at Notre Dame High School, plays the role of young Scrooge's fiancee. Hency is enjoying her first go at performing on radio.

"It's not really that difficult," she said. "It's more exciting to be able to make a radio show since I've never done it before."

Another Notre Dame sophomore, Ben Edwards, handles the role of Young Scrooge. He said character is a difficult one to fully understand.

"He is big and airy and doesn't make a hole lot of sense," Edwards said. "He thinks he does but he only really makes sense to himself."

Greg Petrowich, acting general manager at KRCU, hopes that if all goes well this year, producing a performance of the story will become an annual event for the station and community.

KRCU, a National Public Radio affiliate operated by Southeast Missouri State, plans to air "A Christmas Carol" four times: Friday, Dec. 22, at 1:06 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 24, at 3 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 25, at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 31, at 8 p.m.