Interplayers offers condensed ‘Christmas’

Those of you suffering from “A Christmas Carol” withdrawal will get triple relief beginning tonight.

Interplayers’ “A Reduced Christmas Carol” (or, “Scrooge vs. the Stopwatch”) consists of three different condensed comedy versions of the Dickens classic. One version lasts 15 minutes, one lasts five minutes, and one lasts one minute. It’s all in fun and the entire show takes less than an hour.

The concept was launched in 2001 by a group of local actors including Anne Whiteman, Maynard Villers and John Hart. They were inspired by Tom Stoppard’s 15-minute “Hamlet” and various other “reduced” Shakespeare productions. They polished it and performed it at First Night Spokane and now they are ready for a full-sized (yet still “reduced”) production.

Whiteman is directing this show, which also features Villers and Hart. Other cast members are Patrick Treadway and Reed McColm. Audience members will be recruited to play townspeople, ghosts and even church bells.

The show runs at 7 p.m. tonight, Friday, Saturday, Wednesday and Dec. 21, 22 and 23. Matinee shows at 2 p.m. will take place on Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday and Dec. 22 and 23.

Tickets are $10 for adults ($8 for Interplayers subscribers), $5 for military, students and seniors, and $2 for children, through the Interplayers box office (509-455-PLAY) or TicketsWest outlets (509-325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).

Interplayers is at 174 S. Howard St.