DANVILLE — The Red Mask Players invite area residents to begin the holidays with merriment and laughter by attending their annual Christmas show, “A Dickens of a Christmas Carol,” on Friday, Saturday and Dec. 4 at the Kathryn Randolph Theater, 601 N. Vermilion St.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday.

This production is a fundraiser for Red Mask Theater. Now in its 75th season, it is one of the oldest, continuously running community theaters in downstate Illinois.

Linda Bolton, director of the show, said, “This play gives people a chance to sit down and relax as they start the holidays. And it also gives them an opportunity to support Red Mask. There are few dollars to keep the theater operating,” she added, “so every dollar that we receive from the public is appreciated.”

Written by Mark Landon Smith, the show is actually a play within a play. It keeps the audience wondering about a lot of things — who is doing what, which character is in the right costume, and who tells the next lie.

Smith’s play presents the Styckes-Upon-Thumb acting troupe heading onstage again for their 15th annual farewell tour production of “A Christmas Carol.” From that point on, it seems everything that can go wrong does go wrong.

The leading lady of the theater stays home sick, thinking that all will stop without her presence. But the play must go on, so the understudy to the entire cast finds herself thrust onto the stage. She is left trying to figure out which character she is and what her lines are.

Everyone in the play, except Scrooge, is playing multiple characters. After the leading lady shows up to reclaim her spotlight, very little in the rest of the show makes sense. The audience will see confusion and laughter, watching Scrooge discover happiness after he sees the evil of his ways.

Cast members include Wilbur Bolton as Scrooge, along with Robert Hous, Sue Daugherty, Barb Garner, Gracie Oliver, Alicia Pettigrew and Zachary Allen Taylor. Sue Harden is stage manager, and Donna Sant is the producer.

Bolton said, “In this show we have a great cast that has a lot of experience. My husband Wilbur, who plays Scrooge, is an experienced actor. He’s actually balancing this show and another one at the same time. We also have two young actors from Danville Area Community College, and we welcome Alicia Pettigrew, who is new to the Red Mask stage.

Pettigrew said, “When I tried out for this play I didn’t realize how much work and time it would take, but I’m really enjoying it. This show is so funny, there’s really nothing serious about it.

“Since it’s a physical comedy, I think that all ages should enjoy this play,” she said. “I’m planning to take my two children to it, and they’re 3 and 5 years old.”

Bolton added. “This is a fun, fast-paced production, with everyone running on and off the stage to transform into other characters — and no one is quite sure of what they’re doing or what is happening. We’re having a lot of fun with this show, and it should make the audience laugh and forget about their problems.”

If you go

The Red Mask Players will present “A Dickens of a Christmas Carol” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Kathryn Randolph Theater, 601 N. Vermilion St. There is no reserved seating, and tickets cost $10 at the door. Because the play is a fundraiser, it is not included in the Red Mask’s regular season ticket schedule.