KIDS TROUPE MODERNIZES TIMELY TALE; DICKENS' VICTORIAN SCROOGE ENTERS '90S.

Byline: Douglas Clark Daily News Staff Writer

The ghost of Christmas future is a robot. Scrooge's kindly nephew is a niece. And 19th century London has been replaced with modern America.

What has happened to Charles Dickens' classic holiday tale, ``A Christmas Carol''?

It has been adapted and renamed ``Scrooge'' by the 22 young actors of the Simi Arts Conservatory who want the well-known story to speak directly - and humorously - to a 1990s audience.

``I like the language,'' said Melanie Levy, 11, at a rehearsal Tuesday. ``It's more upbeat so kids can understand it.''

When ``Scrooge'' opens Saturday at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 Los Angeles Ave., audiences will get an earful of hip, funny, modern-day vernacular.

For instance, in one of many new scenes the actors invented for this production with director Cheri West, Scrooge's former partner Jacob Marley gives the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future their marching orders. They are only too happy to scare the wits out of poor Scrooge:

``We're with ya, man.'' ``Oh, yeah.'' ``Totally,'' the three ghosts chime.

Another fun addition to the story is Scrooge's maid, Mrs. Dilber, played by Shannon Belsheim, 10, with a Southern accent.

``I have a lot of funny lines,'' she said. ``The accent helps.''

As comfortable as the young actors are with the language, on Tuesday some still struggled to remember their lines. West kept them alert and focused by shouting instructions over prerecorded Christmas music. ``Come on, you guys, pick it up,'' she said, adding a moment later, ``Wait for the music, kiddos.''

West, who says that in a former life she worked in professional theater, said she encouraged the cast to invent dialogue that made sense to them because they had a hard time understanding some of Dickens' language.

``They're enjoying it a lot more and I think they're getting a more fulfilling experience. They can relate to what's going on,'' she said. ``And they came up with dialogue that I didn't even know existed.''

West's son, Branden, 14, who plays Scrooge's hapless employee, Bob Cratchit, said while the story has a lesson to teach, the cast worked hard to make the text fresh and lively.

``We tried making it as funny as we could. It's '90s talk,'' he said.

As a result, Lorena Ashmore, 12, said rehearsals are as entertaining for her as she hopes the production will be for audiences.

``It's funny when we make mistakes,'' she said.

THE FACTS

The Simi Arts Conservatory production of ``Scrooge'' will open at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Simi Valley Cultural Center, 3050 Los Angeles Ave.

There will be a 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. performance Sunday, and a 7 p.m. performance Tuesday.

Tickets, which may be purchased at the door, are $3 for adults and $2 for children under 12.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

Photo: (1--Color) ) The Simi Arts Conservatory has lightened up and modernized the language of Charles Dickens' ``A Christmas Carol.''

(2--Color) Heather Lucky, left, and Christine Venerosa rehearse a scene from ``Scrooge,'' to be performed at the Simi Valley Cultural Center.

Phil McCarten/Daily News