Pendragon Theatre will host its production of “Mr. Toad’s Christmas Carol” throughout the month. It premiered Saturday.

The meat of the play is still the Charles Dickens classic – a crotchety Ebenezer Scrooge visited by three spirits – but the setup is a little different. It’s actually a play within a play. Mr. Toad of “The Wind in the Willows” fame and all the other critters of Toad Hall are looking to put on a show. However, trouble strikes when their Mrs. Cratchit is home sick. The show must go on, so Mr. Toad steps into the role on short notice. Can he handle the pressure?

“It’s kind of the framing device that adds a whole other layer to the show,” said Annie Smith, who plays Mr. Toad. “You’re thinking about the actual actors. It’s not just ‘A Christmas Carol.’ It’s also these kids who have been thrown in to this situation where they need to step up. I think that adds something else to it, and makes it special.”

“I think it definitely makes the show a lot funnier,” said Andrew Scanio, who plays Scrooge. “Things start off a train wreck in some areas, but you still get across the whole meaning of the scenes.”

Hope Cobb, left, and Andrew Scanio play the Ghost of Christmas Past and Ebenezer Scrooge, respectively, in Pendragon Theatre’s production of “Mr. Toad's A Christmas Carol.” (Provided photo)

So while the actors are dressed as ghosts and in the garb of 19th Century English people, their faces are also painted to resemble rats, moles and badgers.

This style keeps with tradition in general. There have been countless adaptations of “A Christmas Carol.” Some are more traditional like the 2009 animated feature from Robert Zemeckis while others take a few liberties like “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” starring Matthew McConaughey.

Director Kent Streed said Pendragon has always found a different way to present the ghost story over the years.

“One time we did a very minimalistic show that felt more like a reading instead,” he said. “There weren’t a lot of props or sets. It was really just the actors and the material. This is the first year we’ve done an all-children cast. The Mr. Toad idea seemed like a fun way to present the show.”

Many of the lines in the Pendragon show are unaltered from the original 1843 text. Streed said it was important to stay true to the source material and challenge the kids.

Brothers Andrew, left, and Parker Scanio play Ebenezer Scrooge and his nephew Fred in Pendragon Theatre’s production of “Mr. Toad’s Christmas Carol.” (Photo provided)

“I knew it was going to be a little hard for some of the actors at first because the sentences are long and they kind of just keep going,” he said. “But I knew the kids would eventually manage it, and sure enough, they nailed it.”

One of the actors’ favorite scenes in the show is the Fezziwig dance party. Back before Scrooge became, well, a scrooge, he rather liked Christmas, especially the one year he spent with his former employer and coworkers. In this flashback, the actors get to perform this mix of a ballroom and a square dance, hopping up and down, clicking their heels and constantly switching partners, all the while Ghost of Christmas Future actor Brenden Arsenualt plays “Deck the Halls” on recorder.

“They did a great job with that scene, and it’s always fun to watch,” Smith said.

The message in “A Christmas Carol” is simple yet important – don’t be greedy. Well, care about the people around you. Show them love and understanding and gratitude. Summer Cranker, who plays Bob Cratchit, said that’s her favorite part of the show.

“I like the scene where Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Past visit the Cratchits,” she said. “Scrooge has to learn that Cratchit isn’t just some guy or an employee. He’s a person who needs to take care of his family.”

Parker Scanio, who plays Scrooge’s nephew Fred, said he likes the play’s moral, too, because life isn’t just about money.

“It’s about family and love,” he said. “You can’t just live with your work or your money.”

“As you grow older you start to forget about the true Christmas experience,” Andrew Scanio added. “It’s one of the classic stories that reminds you Christmas is a wonderful day, and you should appreciate it.”