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A classic treasure comes to Westfield

By Erin O'Connor

Staff Writer



WESTFIELD The walls of the First Congregational Church on Broad Street surrounded the matinee audience in an 1800's charm recently when New York City actor, Greg Oliver Bodine performed his one-act, one hour, solo stage adaptation of "A Christmas Carol."

"To act a character part is a lot of adrenaline and nervous energy," Bodine said to Reminder Publications after the performance.

Bodine began performing the the adaptation in 2003 with his production company North Shore Theatre Productions. He received a grant that year for the show from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA).

"There is a thrill in watching the audience," he said. "I break the fourth wall. I feed off the audience's energy. I use their energy to energize myself, laughter, crying, it all has an effect."

Bodine portrays Charles Dickens who performs the adaptation using a condensed version of the novel that was said to be used by the author on the second of his reading tours in the US in 1867.

During the 60-minute performance Bodine uses facial expressions, voice alterations and changes in stance to transform into 14 characters that include Ebenezer Scrooge, Jacob Marley, Tiny Tim and numerous others.

"You have to accept the reality that you are going to be up there by yourself," he said. "Some of the things that I do are technical."

Bodine, also a writer and director, said the show was inspired by one of his professors at Hobart College who performed a one-act similar to the one Bodine now does.

"He always told me, 'Keep yourself hydrated'," Bodine said. "For actors our bodies, our physical selves, is our instrument."

Bodine said that to execute a performance such as this one he learns his lines early. It takes the Long Island drama teacher two and a half months to have a script completely memorized.

"Once you have your lines memorized you are free to act. If you are not sure what to say next then you just don't act," he added.

Bodine offered advice for aspiring thespians: "Don't give up believe in yourself. If acting makes you happy then do it. Acting is as important a profession as painters or sculptors."

Bodine currently balances time between acting, producing, directing, writing and teaching. His New York acting credits include shows at Ensemble Studio Theater, American Globe Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Source, Lincoln Center Directors' Lab, Columbia University M.F.A. Directing Program, Center Stage and Theater Ten Ten.

He has been on television programs that include "Guiding Light," "As the World Turns" and "Saturday Night Live."

The performance was part of Westfield Dickens Days and sponsored by Westfield on Weekends (WOW), the Westfield Business Improvement District (BID), Westfield State College (WSC) and United Bank.



Erin O'Connor can be reached at Erin@The Reminder.com