One actor, Bobby Kerrigan of Wenham, has starred in so many roles that he stopped counting.
The other, Eric Raimondi of Groveland, finds himself in a very similar situation.
Similar careers, yet very different life situations.
Kerrigan is 49 years old and a postmaster in Rockport; Raimondi is 12 years old and a seventh-grader at Pentucket Middle School in West Newbury.
The pair will be pooling their talents when the Pentucket Players present "Scrooge: The Musical" for the next two weekends at the Rogers Center for the Arts on the campus of Merrimack College in North Andover.
Kerrigan is cast as the dastardly Ebenezer Scrooge and Raimondi as the beloved Tiny Tim.
"Scrooge: The Musical," with book, music, and lyrics by renowned writer-composer-lyricist Leslie Briscusse, is based upon Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." It has been rewritten to include six new songs, yet remains faithful to the timeless Dickens' tale about the miserly Scrooge and his transformation into a caring human being.
Pentucket Players originally presented "Scrooge" back in 2003, but director John Buzzell of Haverhill promises a much different version full of special effects and audience participation this year.
"There have been some major changes made in the musical score and new songs have been added," said Buzzell, one of the co-founders of Pentucket Players in 1993.
"The set has been completely redesigned and rebuilt," he said. "In many respects, it's a new show for us. There's even a spot when the children in the audience are asked to help Mr. Scrooge turn himself around."
Kerrigan played Bob Cratchit in the 2003 production and, he admits, the role of Scrooge has been a major challenge.
"Scrooge is a very complex character," said Kerrigan, who last spring portrayed Jud Fry in Pentucket Players' presentation of "Oklahoma."
"Bob Cratchit was not as complex," Kerrigan continued. "In the beginning, when I sing and speak, I have to display so many emotions, I have to hate life, I have to show bitterness. Then, as the show progresses, I have to transform myself into someone different, someone more lovable. That's when your dialogue and singing take on a different tone.''
With the help of three ghosts — Christmas Past, Present and Future — Scrooge completes his transformation and it is never more evident than when he closes the show with the song, "I'll Begin Again."
"It's a song of hope, one that tells me my life is going to change and that I can show the world it's not too late," Kerrigan said. "It's when I realize the three ghosts have convinced me that I can begin again, that I don't have to be miserable, that I can be loved. It's a powerful song, I think the most powerful in the show."
Among some of Kerrigan's other credits are starring roles in "Annie" with the Neverland Theater of Hamilton; "1776" with the Concord Players; "My Favorite Year'' with the Colonial Chorus Players of Reading; and "Beauty and the Beast" and "Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," both with Marblehead Little Theater.
Raimondi, despite his tender age, is a veteran of Pentucket Players. He's come a long way since first playing a cherry on top of the ice cream sundae in "Beauty and the Beast" in 2006, however.
Since, he's been cast as leader of the Lollypop Guild in "The Wizard of Oz';' Benjamin in "Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"; and grabbed the lead role in "Oliver." That role, he said, made his transition to Tiny Tim a bit easier.
"It reminds me very much of Oliver," Raimondi said. "It's the same time period and it's in England. And I play a kid again, just like Oliver. It's been a role I've always wanted to play and I am having a lot of fun with it."
Raimondi says one of his biggest challenges was learning how to hobble around on a single wooden crutch.
"It was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be," he said, "even harder than learning my lines. Man, it really hurt, especially under my arm."
Among his credits, Raimondi also lists roles in "Pom Pom Zombies," "Damn Yankess," "West Side Story," "Guys and Dolls," "Music Man," "Carousel," "Brigadoon," and "Kiss Me Kate" with various theater groups and in school.
Buzzell sang the praises of both Kerrigan and Raimondi.
"In addition to his rich voice and dramatic abilities, Bobby brings a sense of fun and lightheartedness to the role of Scrooge," he said. "It's been a challenge for Eric, but he has found his Tiny Tim and is still making it his own. He is a multi-talented young man with a wonderful voice and he knows how to use his talents to put together a character."
"Scrooge: The Musical" has a cast of 63, making it the third largest performance in 16 years of Pentucket Players presentations. With such a large cast, one would think that Buzzell faces many challenges, but he insists that really is not the case.
"Every play has its own challenges, of course," said Buzzell, an eighth-grade language arts teacher in the Lawrence public school system. "This script is actually very well written which makes the director's job much easier. Our leading characters have been delightful and the ensemble has also been very cooperative.''
Among others with featured roles Peter Milligan of Haverhill as Bob Cratchit; Ashley Tisbert of Andover as Ghost of Christmas Past; Carl Juliano of Fremont, N.H., as Ghost of Christmas Present; Steve Buccini of Haverhill as Ghost of Christmas Future; Kevin Wilson of Lawrence as Tom Jenkins; Garry Sharpe of Haverhill as Jacob Marley; and John Zimini of Dracut as Mr. Fezziwig.
"Scrooge: The Musical" has a production budget of more than $70,000 and features a 12-piece professional orchestra under the direction of Alan Freedman of North Andover. Choreography is by Sharon Lamont of Burlington and vocal director is Therese Honda of North Andover. The producer is Marie Bliven of Methuen.
IF YOU GO
What: "Scrooge: The Musical"
When: 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 20; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21; 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22; 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 27; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 28.
Where: Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, North Andover.
How: Tickets are $20. All seats reserved. Available at the Rogers Center box office, by phone at 978-521-9259 or online at www.pentucketplayers.org.
