It would be difficult to find an actor better suited to the part of Ebenezer Scrooge than Jon Doll.

Not that he’s a stingy and cantankerous bah humbug type — far from it. It’s just that in real life he’s been on both sides of the financial fence.

For years he worked in retail for a national department store chain, but now he’s the Vice President of Development for United Way of King County.

“I’ve dealt with a few Scrooges,” he said.

Doll plays the iconic character in the Ovation! Musical Theatre of Bainbridge production of “A Christmas Carol,” opening Dec. 9 on Bainbridge Island, directed by Ron Milton.

Ovation! is known for staging lavish musicals, such as “Pirates of Penzance” and “The Music Man,” but this production is a departure for the company.

This adaptation by John Mortimer of London’s Royal Shakespeare Company uses a Greek chorus-style narrator, and incorporates classic Christmas tunes into the play.

The decision to go with the musical play was partly due to the fact that Ovation! musical director Corrina Lapid-Munter was unavailable for the early stages of rehearsal. She landed a role in the chorus of the musical “Sweeney Todd,” which just finished a run at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre.

She was able to work with some of the singers on an individual basis and made a CD for the chorus to use in practice before joining the group two weeks before opening. A week later, she felt the show was working out well.

“It’s given people who don’t feel as comfortable singing a chance to work with us,” she said.

The caroling ensemble also gives community members a chance to join Ovation! without having to shoulder a demanding singing role, while still getting to wear great costumes.

Singers are Holly Figueroa, Lauren Watts, Ann Gabrielle Boucher, Dee Axelrod, Sara Smith-Sell, Katelyn Simon, Ellen Lapid-Munter and Marijane Milton.

Director Ron Milton said this Royal Shakespeare version was true to Dickens’ vision of what was going on in London during that time.

Dickens was known for using literature to speak out against the social injustices of Victorian England and the disparity between the rich and the poor.

The narrators help to get Dickens’ message across by providing commentary to the audience about the times, breaking theater’s “fourth wall.” They also become characters in the play, further enriching the story.

Milton said at the heart of it, “A Christmas Carol” is about community.

“We wanted to share that sense of community,” he said. “People get carried away, and forget how wonderful life is. We wanted to show what’s really important: a sense of community and the people you’re with.”

Playing the pivotal role of Tiny Tim is 10-year-old Chloe Simon, a fourth grade student at Odyssey.

The petite youngster has two Ovation! productions under her belt, and it didn’t bother her that this one is not a straightforward musical.

“I just love doing plays. It doesn’t matter that it’s not a musical,” she said.

And, she does get to sing her first solo in the production, a cherubic version of “Away in the Manger.” The part has just one line, which she recites twice, the classic “God bless us everyone.”

The lush period costumes are up to Ovation’s high standards, with head costumer Barbara Klingberg putting in an estimated 80 hours per week since early November.

“The cast of 35 is as large as many Broadway productions,” she said. “But they would have an entire shop sewing — we do it in a basement.”

Klingberg has worked as a costumer for Tony-winning productions, and is assisted on this production by Kathy Doll, Victoria Kight and a group of volunteers.

Playing other key roles are David Denny as Bob Cratchit, Mike Watts as Jacob Marley and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, Kasey Harrison as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Tom Morton as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Carter Kight as the Young Scrooge and Kathy Doll as Mrs. Cratchit.

“A Christmas Carol” runs Dec. 9-18 at Bainbridge High School’s LGI Theater. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets are $18 adults, $15 seniors and military (active and retired) and $9 for students and children. They are available at Winslow Drugs, online at www.ovationmtb.com or by phone at (206) 842-0472. wu