Inspecting Carol; Don’t miss this hilarious play about a small theater annually putting on A Christmas Carol. Suddenly it is discovered they may not get their National Endowment for the Arts funding and panic ensues.

The ensemble cast is fantastic; professionals, every one! Janine Smith as Zorah Bloch runs the theater and discovers from Clifford Alfrey, her accountant, that they are in financial peril. Still, “The show must go on!”

Leslie Haddad as stage manager tries, without much success, to get everyone to rehearse. Playing dual roles are Peter J. Hill as Scrooge/Larry, Alex Gonzalez as Christmas Past/Walter, Diane Senffner as Mrs. Cratchit/Dorothy, Henry Male as Marley/Sidney, Ollie Clarke as Tiny Tim/Luther and Michael Paul Wallot as Cratchit/Phil. Nick Buchanan plays Wayne, a newbie actor, and Noel Irick plays the Inspector. Larry and Wayne change the script to make it a somewhat inappropriate social commentary.

The comedic timing is spot-on. The ensuing misadventures of this incredible cast leave the audience in tears, still laughing as we exited the theater. Inspecting Carol runs December 7, 9, 15, 17, 21 and 23 at the Fountain Hills Theater, running on alternating dates with A Christmas Carol: The Musical.