California Center for the Arts Escondio presents “Hope Springs, Eternal,” a Christmas mystery about the mystery of Christmas

What would you do if someone offered you more money than you’ve ever seen to do something worse than anything you’ve ever done? It all starts when a man named Charlie wanders into the quiet Midwestern town of Hope Springs one clear autumn day. Some believe Charlie is an angel but he sure stirs up one devil of a mess. Who is Charlie and what is he up to?

This Christmas, travel back to 1940’s America, the Swing Era. Presented by the award-winning North County Players, “Hope Springs, Eternal” uses the music, sets, and costumes of the time, along with humor, drama, and twists you won’t see coming, to tell a story not only of deceit and corruption, but also of redemption and the meaning of Christmas itself.

“Hope Springs, Eternal” is written by master storyteller and nationally published playwright Charles Carr (“Passage Into Fear;” “Old Dogs, Dirty Tricks;” “All the Time in the World”). Carr’s shows, which feature modern plotting and pacing, have been produced all over the country. “Hope Springs, Eternal” is told in the familiar style of beloved classics like “A Christmas Carol,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Shows take place in our intimate 100-seat Studio 1 Theatre. With great seats as low as $20, tickets are priced more like a movie than traditional theater, to enable as many as possible to experience the special wonder that is live theater.

“Hope Springs, Eternal” is just the ticket to get you and your whole family into the holiday spirit!