In the Boerne Community Theatre production of “A Christmas Carol,” the Cratchit family is portrayed by (from left) Cooper Hale (Peter), David Dobrokta (Bob Cratchit), Debbie White (Mrs. Cratchit), Zena Crowley (Belinda), Julieanna Stolley (Miranda), Kaylin Flores (Martha), Michel Janse (Gillian), Grant Gannon (Tiny Tim). Courtesy photo by Ann Cannon

Everybody knows that in the classic Dickens tale “A Christmas Carol” Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. There are few surprises in the familiar plot. But who would suspect that the Boerne Community Theatre’s cast would reflect the past, present and future of the BCT itself?

In Alan Godin, playing the crotchety miser Scrooge, who experiences a life-changing epiphany, the BCT has one of its most seasoned thespians who appeared on stage in his native Massachusetts, then Kansas and Missouri before moving to San Antonio a decade ago. It would be hard to cast a more appropriate Scrooge character than Godin, who literally has the chops (he has grown muttonchop sideburns) for the role.

A surprising new addition to the BCT’s present-day stage, Fouad Abuzeid is a novice to the theater. But the high school teacher has genuine chemistry (appropriately his field of education) in his several roles in the 42-character cast. He brings a glowering presence as the chain-clanking ghost of old Marley, Scrooge’s former business partner, but he starts to seriously sizzle as he takes on the ebullient Mr. Fezziwig and emerges near the end of the play as a delightfully crusty and cagey Old Joe, gleefully purchasing the remains of the dead from a charwoman and laundress with an audience-appealing aplomb.

The future of the BCT appears to be in good care as well in the soft, small hands of the numerous youths in the cast. In particular, young Grant Gannon makes a winsomely appealing Tiny Tim, limping convincingly with his little crutch and coughing delicately as if to require a mustard plaster.

Other inspired performances come from Ian Schoolcraft as the sonorous Christmas Present, Jacob Davis as Scrooge’s earnest nephew Fred and Augie Vogeler as the charming Topper.

The BCT’s annual production of A Christmas Carol, directed by Patrick Crowley, continues the next two weekends through Dec. 23. Two dollars from each ticket sold to tonight’s performance will be donated to the Sam Champion Statue Fund. BISD School Board Trustee Erik Thormaehlen will be present to represent the statue fund and to answer questions.

Production dates are tonight, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Dec. 20, 21, 22 and 23. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays.

The box office is open 10 a.m. to noon Monday through Saturday. Call (830) 249-9166 to reserve your seat now. E-mail reservations are also accepted at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .