Act 1 DeSales University Theatre has staged a witty and whimsical new holiday-inspired play with original music, in
its area premiere of “Mr. Dickens’ Hat: A Play with Music” through Dec. 8 on the Main Stage of the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley.
Written and composed by Philadelphia playwright Michael Hollinger, the amusing and lighthearted play is inspired by a true incident in which Charles Dickens was involved in a train accident in 1865, and used his hat to bring water to the injured and dying passengers.
In this story, Dickens’ hat ends up on display as the centerpiece of a hat shop in Victorian London.
The inventive and clever play is presented story theatre-style with the actors on stage preparing for the show by vocalizing and warming up before it starts. There is narration and breaking of the fourth wall which occasionally points out gaps between the mention of something and the year in the future it was actually invented, tongue-cheek-style.
Madison Howe is sweet and plucky as Kit, the Dickensonian heroine of the piece. Howe’s determined Kit is forced to leaves school to work at the hat shop to earn enough money to free her father from debtors’ prison.
Kit is an avid reader and has been given a book of Dickens’ classics by Mr. Garbleton, the hat shop owner, played as bumbling, but warm, by Ryan Plunkett.
Garbleton is engaged to Mrs. Prattle, a milliner whom Nicolette Keddie plays as sensible and controlling.
Overlooked by Prattle and the harried Garbleton is Garbleton’s son Ned, whom Kit kindly befriends. Ian Higgins’ Ned is seemingly simple, but smarter than he appears.
The story goes into high gear when Fleece, a humorous and darkly charming Carter Sachse, decides to steal Dickens’ hat for financial gain.
Most of the actors play multiple roles, often changing character back and forth while on stage with small wardrobe adjustments.
Sachse also plays Kit’s kind but downtrodden father and Plunkett portrays Fleece’s funny, gawky sidekick Gnat.
Higgins is comical as a hat-collecting countess, who is willing to pay any price for a prize hat, and Keddie doubles as Kit’s memory of her deceased mother.
Abigail Townsend is hilarious as the clueless constable, who is cheerfully looking for a felony to foil. Townsend also lends an imperious note to Lady Plume, a hat shop patron who is meeting the queen and needs a special hat.
Hollinger has composed some lovely Victorian-style carols, which are sung in delightful harmonies by the cast, led by musical director Nathan Diehl and sound designer Jonathan Cannon.
Most notable is “Tar-Black River” a darkly foreboding song about what lies in the murky depths of the Thames River, sung as Kit navigates the unsafe walkways across the river
Scenic designer Meghan Jones has created a Victorian-flavored set using scaffolding to suggest a train trestle and employs creatively utilized boards for bridges and other purposes. A certain amount of the action is left to the audience’s imagination, including a cheeky bird in a cage.
Costume designer Amy Best dresses the cast in both tattered street dresses and Victorian finery and has assembled an impressive collection of hats.
Director K O’Rourke deftly manages the breakneck pace, in which actors jump from one situation to another changing character and plotlines.
Hollinger will attend both talk back performances on Nov. 24, and Dec. 3, as well as the post show event, “Kit’s Cookies and Carol-oke,” on Dec. 6.
The Nov. 23 performance will feature open captioning for patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing and audio descriptions for patrons who are blind or visually impaired. Tickets are half price for patrons using these special services on this date. Call box office manager Eric Pierson at 610-282-3654, ext. 1, for information.
The show is recommended for ages 8 and up.
Tickets are $23 for adults and $21 for seniors and students.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Nov. 22, 23, Dec. 4, 5, 6 and 7; 2 p.m. Nov. 24 and Dec. 8; and 9:45 a.m. Dec. 3.
For information, call 610-282-3192, or go to www.desales.edu/news-events/act-1-productions.