Performing with two of her children in A Christmas Carol at Virginia Repertory Theatre is a real bonus for Emelie Faith Thompson who plays Mrs. Fred/Claire and is dance captain for the show.
Thompson’s nine-year-old daughter, Violet, returns for her second year in Virginia Rep’s production. Her six-year-old son, Theo, is making his theatrical debut in this year’s production.
“He was counting down the months before the auditions,” Thompson says of Theo who wanted to be in the show ever since he saw it last year.
Theo captured the pivotal role of Tiny Tim in the production.
“Tiny Tim is just kind of a quiet kid, but he’s not like me because I’m a loud kid sometimes,” says Theo.
Violet plays Fan, Ebenezer Scrooge’s younger sister, during the Ghost of Christmas Past’s visit— she played the same role last year.
“I really like to see the way she reacts with her brother as a boy and then seeing what the character of her brother is like now,” says Violet. “I think she is kind and a good person for Scrooge to look back at and remember.”
Violet enjoys seeing a show, “but it’s really fun to see how it gets put together, and I just think it’s really special,” she says.
One of Theo’s favorite things is “getting warmed up when it’s about to be our turn when the other youth cast is doing it — there are two casts of six children in the production. We’re all good friends, we actually are. And I like taking 10s. That means 10 minutes off,” he says.
A Christmas Carol is the “classic Christmas show.”
“It’s a familiar story. There’s a little something for everybody,” she says, adding that Scrooge goes through such a huge change of heart — his circumstances don’t change but “his attitude does.”
The end of the play speaks to the importance of community and the fact that people need people.
“Scrooge is able to realize that there is joy in his life again,” says Thompson who saw her first professional production of play when she was in third grade. “The play is so universal, even more than 100 years later.”
This year, Thompson is playing Mrs. Fred, Scrooge’s nephew’s wife.
“Mrs. Fred does get a nice moment with Scrooge at the end of the play,” she says. “I am delighted to be a part of the show. We have a great group of people.”
During her career, Thompson has worked in two national tours — A Christmas Carol and Miracle on 34th Street, — Off-Broadway, and regionally, appearing in everything from Ragtime and Anything Goes to My Fair Lady and Annie Get Your Gun. She also starred in Virginia Rep’s production of MAMMA MIA! as Donna, Waitress as Jenna, and Come From Away as Bonnie and others.
This production, however, presents a different dynamic — working with her kids — for her.
“They understand when we are at work I am still their mom, but they need to listen to other adults running the rehearsal,” she says.
Thompson feels so lucky to have this opportunity.
“Being there and watching them experience the magic of theatre is a gift to me as a parent,” she says.
A Christmas Carol runs November 18 – December 27 at Virginia Rep’s November Theatre. Tickets are available on their website.
