The secret’s out—one of the most beloved holiday traditions for many Orange County families is experiencing the South Coast Repertory’s annual production of A Christmas Carol. The fact that he is part of a treasured tradition delights the show’s main star, Hal Landon Jr., who plays the notorious Ebenezer Scrooge. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Landon and discussing his love of the theater and of the classic story by Charles Dickens.

I must admit, I was nervous meeting Mr. Landon. My only concept of who he is has been created from the formidable character I’ve seen him play on stage. However, he is quite the opposite of Scrooge. The gentleman was soft spoken, glowing with happiness when his week-old granddaughter was mentioned, and humble as he answered questions about himself. The man is the antithesis of the person I’ve watched him embody for so long, which made me wonder if he relates to the character of Scrooge at all.

“I don’t try to generally find parts of myself in characters that I play. I just have an image, a vision, of who this person is, and I try to become that guy,” Mr. Landon explained. Playing the same role for twenty-nine years, in some ways, becomes easier with time (Mr. Landon obviously has his lines memorized). On the other hand, the production must stay fresh, especially considering the high percentage of returning audience members. “The important thing—and this has been a great lesson—is developing a level of concentration where you’re in the moment every moment.” He explained, “You’re not anticipating or thinking what’s coming next, and hopefully that allows you to respond anew to everything else that’s going on. … If you’re open to that, that keeps it fresh.”  Interacting with a new cast each year makes the dynamic between characters slightly different with each production as well.

In the opening scene of the play, Mr. Landon’s Scrooge shocks us. He bitterly mutters under his breath, yells at a young caroler in the street, harasses charity collectors, mocks his own nephew, and refuses to give his bookkeeper, Bob Cratchit, more than a day off for Christmas. There is no compelling reason for the audience to sympathize with Scrooge. He has chosen a life isolated from humanity, exhausted of morals, and bankrupt of decency, gratefulness, and kindness. And yet, Mr. Landon brings a vulnerability to Scrooge that reminds the audience that his humanity isn’t nonexistent; it just needs restoring. As Scrooge feels penitence, grief, and pity for the first time in decades, the audience’s hope that he will change grows more and more. By the end of the play, Scrooge is a redeemed and transformed being. “Any sort of redemption or salvation story is one that nearly everyone can relate to,” Mr. Landon explained of the story’s appeal. He also joked about Scrooge’s new lease on life. “It’s never too late. At my age, I like that message.”

This will be Mr. Landon’s thirtieth year playing Scrooge in SCR’s production. He was originally asked by the director to play the miser. “I think it was because I was the thinnest and the baldest,” he quipped. What’s kept him coming back to the role each year?  “It’s just a great part.  You don’t get that many opportunities to play a role like that.” It is easy to see the joy that the role brings Mr. Landon with each performance he gives. Don’t miss this treat of a show for another year! 

I’ve often wondered if my holiday experiences seem strange to outsiders. The fact that I rarely see my dad from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve may inspire pity, but truth be told after 22 Christmases, I wouldn’t have them any other way. I have the unique pleasure of being the daughter of a man who has become a household name in Orange County. Every Christmas, my dad puts on a costume and becomes Ebenezer Scrooge, the crotchety yet beloved character from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. For 30 years, my dad has embraced this character and mastered the difficult task of conquering the inevitable struggle that comes from playing the same character for so many years. Every year, my excitement builds as I wonder how my dad will portray Scrooge. Will he be more of a tortured soul this year? Or a thoroughly fed up, flat out grouch? I’m always surprised since he likes to keep it a bit of a mystery till the show opens. At the curtain call, I well with pride as he takes his bow and the volume of the applause gets louder and louder. I want nothing more than to scream, “That’s my dad!” I feel blessed and honored to be the daughter of a man who reminds us of the spirit of Christmas and brings joy and happiness to his audience members. Although one might pause to wonder, “Don’t you miss your dad around the holidays?” The truth is, I’ve learned to share him and I’m very proud to do so. Christmas will always be a time for Scrooge in my book and I am always thrilled to share my most beloved Christmas tradition. Wassail!