For the Love of Scrooge

By JIM KEVLIN • The Freeman’s Journal/HOMETOWN ONEONTA

Edition of Thursday-Friday, Dec. 25-26, 2014

Gary Koutnik hasn’t just played Scrooge, he and his audience live the story of redemption together.

“Everybody knows the play,” said the actor, mutton-chopped for the time being. “They know what happens at the end. They’re waiting for it. I feel like I’m being swept along.

“The more emotion I’m feeling on stage in the character, the more I can help the audience feel. And the audience helps me do that, too.”

Koutnik, retired special-ed director at Oneonta schools and county representative from the city’s Ward 1-2, completed his second run as Charles Dickens’ famous Grinch on Saturday, Dec. 20.

“A Christmas Carol,” which the Glimmer Globe Theatre and Templeton Players, sponsored by Matt and Mary Margaret Sohns, performed for a second year at The Farmers’ Museum, filled four performances at the Louis Jones Center over two weekends.

Because of its universal message, “A Christmas Carol” has enduring appeal, said Danielle Henrici, NYSHA director of education and producer. For some families, including hers while growing up on Long Island, seeing “A Christmas Carol” is an annual tradition.

“There really is hope,” she said of its message. “Even if you’ve gone astray, you can correct yourself and be a good person. It’s really what the holidays are all about – remembering what really matters in life.”

For Koutnik, Scrooge was “a bucket-list role” (along with Dickens’ Fagan in “Oliver Twist”).

A docent at Hyde Hall, he had met Danielle then-Newell and her now-husband, Mike Henrici, when they conducted ghost tours together at the National Historic Landmark mansion.

When the couple asked him to play Scrooge, Koutnik quickly accepted, then realized his son, Randall, was getting married that same weekend. As arrangements proceeded, the son and bride Lily shifted the ceremony a week, and Scrooge Koutnik was born.

“Scrooge has to play the whole range,” the actor reflected. “Greed, unhappiness – then he has to be so joyous and giving. And that happens as the play progresses – it’s a great challenge.”

It seems there are many, many scripts based on “A Christmas Carol.” But the lines in this one, written by Mike Henrici, with contributions from Danielle, are the words Dickens used in the novel, an added attraction for Koutnik.

Otsego County’s Scrooge was raised on Long Island, and his interest in acting dates back to attending elementary school plays in Wantagh.

As a high school freshman, he was cast as a crowd member. The next year, he was Frederick, one of the Trapp children in “Sound of Music.” “That opened my eyes to what this all should be,” he said. “I just never stopped.”

After college, he joined ONC BOCES’ special-ed faculty, and after 14 years moved to the Oneonta City School District, but he continued to direct and perform. On the Oneonta theater scene, he was Arthur in “Camelot,” the baker in “Into the Woods,” and – his favorite role – Juror #8 in “Twelve Angry Men,” the role played by Henry Fonda in the movie.

In the special-ed field, he met wife Abbey, who is also an artist and performing clown. They have two sons, Randall, writing code in San Francisco, and Whitsun, at home.

Koutnik was recently elected to a second term on the county board. But his second term as Scrooge will be his last, as least for a while. “It’s a great thrill,” he said, but added, “I don’t want to play a lifelong Scrooge.” (The Henricis have recruited Dr. Don Raddatz to step in next year.)

Still, Scrooge is a hard role to let go. You can almost hear Koutnik shiver as he depicts Scrooge asking the black-shrouded Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come: “Show me someone who feels tenderness regarding a death.”

The Ghost shows him the mourning Cratchits.

“I’ve asked you to show me tenderness,” our Scrooge declares. “And you have.” A pause. “Take me away.”