It may not be a well known fact, but “A Christmas Carol,” Charles Dickens epic play, was written with as much purpose as story when penned in 1843. The holiday classic was inspired by Dickens’ own youth, one that was spent in poverty and resulted in him leaving school and, like so many other children of the era, work in a factory to help support his family.
The latest incarnation of the seemingly timeless tale of redemption is now playing through the end of December at the Marvin and Judi Wolff Theater at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. But this performance features something of a twist and a delightful one, at that.
‘Tiny Tim,’ the iconic little boy in the production is no longer the cockney speaking waif, but a precocious seven-year-old Denver second-grader named Benjamin Martinez.
Young Mr. Martinez landed the role of Tiny Tim over a number of other young boys, said his father, David. “It was a whole group of children,” he said. “They took them all into a separate room” and had them go through the paces. “It wasn’t long.”
Martinez, a Denver probation officer, also, told his son at the audition that there was “no expectation.” He said the only thing he told Benjamin was, “Just go have fun and enjoy the moment.”
The character ‘Tiny Tim’ is by no means the ebullient moppet. Dickens’ Tiny Tim needs a crutch to walk and has trouble breathing. The character somewhat symbolizes the London of the period, a time when the city was in the midst of the industrial revolution and dark coal-firedclouds belched from furnaces and stagnated over the region. They blackened not only the skies but the spirit that has captured the soul of the story’s protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge.
The character of Tiny Tim is a sickly child whose father, the ever loyal Bob Cratchit, cannot afford to pay for the treatments the boy needs on the salary his boss, Scrooge, pays him. But Tiny Tim’s modern day incarnation, Benjamin, has found a way to bottle his energy and blend it into the perfect embodiment of the 19th century child, said casting director Grady Soapes.
“Tiny Tim needs to be a kid with an energetic and optimistic outlook on life,” said Soapes. “In Benjamin’s audition, it was clear he is a joyful and happy child and was truly excited just to be in the room auditioning for that role.” When a young actor shows these qualities, Soapes said, “you know you have found the right Tiny Tim.”
Before the audition, said Martinez, his son’s only knowledge of the classic play was in “The Muppets Christmas Carol.” What apparently stayed with him from the Muppets’ version, Martinez said, “was the little piece of hope in the story.”
Now a veteran of nearly three weeks of performances, Martinez says he sees no change in his young boy. Of course, others, including those at his school, have celebrated their new ‘star.’
“He was ‘Student of the Week’ last week, said Martinez. The family used pictures from a dress rehearsal and taken by a professional photographer for his poster board to share the experience with his school. “His teacher also had him take the magazine from the DCPA,” said Martinez, adding “that a couple of teachers from his school also went to the show.”
While young Benjamin has enjoyed his time playing the part of Tiny Tim, said his father, he has not lost his focus on the other things that take up his time, including school where he continues to excel. “He has good grades and good assessments,” and also has a good group of friends.
The seven-year-old second-grader, said Martinez, not unlike other children his age, loves soccer, baseball, hockey and flag football. “He’s good at all of them,” the proud father adds. “Everything has clicked with all the sports,” Martinez said. “He just loves to run, catch and score touchdowns.”
Though young Benjamin’s a veteran of nearly three weeks of productions, both father and mother, Selena, who’s also a Denver probation officer, say their own anxiety still hangs over them with each performance. But nothing like the first time.
“On opening night,” he said of Benjamin’s mother, “her expression was a constant smile…she put her hands to her face and you could hear her talking to herself. She was so proud.” For him, Martinez said the experience was all so new.
“We had seen the costumes before, but to see him make his first appearance and coming on to the stage, that was very different.” “It was very emotional, constantly smiling,” he said. “I was catching myself with tears coming down my face. ‘Our baby was doing some very amazing things.’”
The Martinez also have two other children, both daughters, one older than Benjamin, one younger.
Performances of “A Christmas Carol,” run through the end of December. tickets can be purchased on line athttps://tickets.denvercenter.org.
