By Lois Rogers | Correspondent

This being the season when versions of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” abound, the traditional tale with its heartwarming emphasis on the redemption of one of literature’s most hard-hearted characters, seemed a natural choice for an Advent offering by the students, faculty and parents involved in Monsignor Donovan’s performing arts program.

And in keeping with Dickens’ message of “keeping Christmas” with generous hearts, on Dec. 5, the Toms River school filled its buses with Catholic school students from around the area and brought them for a free dress rehearsal performance of the classic show.

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Nearly 500 students from St. Peter School, Point Pleasant Beach; St. Dominic, Brick; St. Veronica, Howell, All Saints Regional School, Manahawkin; St. Joseph School, Toms River, and Monsignor Donovan High School, filled the auditorium.

There, the performance, directed by Karin Krenek, coordinator of the performing arts program, was preceded by a lively, interactive scenesetter vigorously conducted by her son, Michael, assistant of the play and a substitute teacher in Monsignor Donovan.

In ice-breaker format, he had the kids up out of their seats, exuberantly trying everything from proper “Victorian” manners to English accents. The ice-breaker had the unintended benefit of not only prepping the students for the nuances of the play, but keeping them happily occupied as they waited for the bus from St. Peter School, delayed by what seemed to be a Londonstyle fog.

This version of the Dickens classic, first performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company, was fast paced and delightful. It was also sprinkled by Krenek and company with sparkling Catholic touches: Christmas carols, appropriately enough, opened every scene and the two “portly gentlemen” who appeal to miser Ebenezer Scrooge for charity for the poor were transformed most appropriately into nuns. Because the show was running overtime and buses had to take the students back to their respective schools, the kids didn’t get to see the moving finale. But what they saw delighted them and many said they wanted to take Krenek up on the invitation to return that weekend to see the complete version of the play.

Max Feniello and Ariana Dalia, eighth grade students in St. Peter School, said they really enjoyed the show. “We thought including the songs was very good,” said Feniello. Dalia said that the “actors really remind you of Christmas.”

Interviewed a few days later, Krenek said that many of the students had returned with their parents to see the play Dec. 7. The Dec. 8 performance had to be postponed until the following weekend because of bad weather.

The final performance was scheduled for Dec. 15, weather permitting, said Krenek, who noted that these performances were “record breaking in so many ways for us. We had almost 500 students attending the dress rehearsal – a first for us which we hope to repeat.

“We had about 130 students, cast and crew members, members of the faculty and parents volunteering. The parents were responsible for the sets,” she noted, adding, “The feedback was positive and uplifting and joyful.”