By Michael A. Youngs

Transcription

1 By Michael A. Youngs Copyright 06, by Michael A. Youngs Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that a royalty must be paid for every performance, whether or not admission is charged. All inquiries regarding rights should be addressed to Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., PO Box 4267, Englewood, CO 801. All rights to this play including but not limited to amateur, professional, public reading and translation into foreign languages are controlled by Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., without whose permission no performance, reading or presentation of any kind in whole or in part may be given. All other rights in this play, including radio broadcasting, television and motion picture rights, are controlled by MICHAEL A. YOUNGS to whom all inquiries should be addressed c/o Pioneer Drama Service, Inc. PO Box 4267, Englewood, CO These rights are fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America and of all countries covered by the Universal Copyright Convention or with which the United States has reciprocal copyright relations, including Canada, Mexico, Australia and all nations of the United Kingdom. ONE SCRIPT PER CAST MEMBER MUST BE PURCHASED FOR PRODUCTION RIGHTS. COPYING OR DISTRIBUTING ALL OR ANY PART OF THIS BOOK WITHOUT PERMISSION IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN BY LAW. On all programs, printing and advertising, the following information must appear: 1. The full name of the play 2. The full name of the playwright 3. The following notice: Produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., Denver, Colorado

2 A CHRISTMAS CAROL Adapted from the Charles Dickens classic story By MICHAEL A. YOUNGS CAST OF CHARACTERS (In Order of Appearance) # of lines OLD MAN...grandfather of Thomas; owner of a prominent London lending business in the early 1900s SOLICITOR...middle-aged London businessman 1 THOMAS...school-aged boy who adores his 28 grandfather, but doesn t understand generosity BOB CRATCHIT...poor clerk of Ebenezer Scrooge s 32 SCROOGE...miserly old man, bitter and gruff to all 12 MR. TURLEY...friendly, good-natured caretaker at St. 2 Beatrice s Orphanage; quite confident with his orphan charges, but terribly afraid of Sister Angelene EMMA...young orphan; 6- years of age 4 LILLIAN...another 4 FRED...good-hearted nephew of Scrooge; fun- 3 loving and generous MRS. DILBER...Scrooge s housekeeper and cook; 24 helps support her family by borrowing from her employer MARLEY...Scrooge s deceased partner 31 PAST...young teenage girl dressed in white with 24 pale complexion; shows little emotion toward Scrooge FAN...young teenage girl who was Scrooge s 3 older sister BOY SCROOGE...Scrooge as a young boy in boarding 2 school between 8-12 years of age YOUNG SCROOGE...Scrooge as a young adult man during 11 his apprenticeship BELLE...young woman of similar age to Young 11 Scrooge; daughter of Fezziwig, under whom Scrooge apprenticed ii

3 PRESENT...middle-aged man who sarcastically 28 deals with Scrooge s reluctance to see the error of his ways TINY TIM...crippled youngest son of the Cratchits 3 MRS. CRATCHIT....woman of similar age to Bob with a 13 strong will towards Scrooge and passionate feelings towards Tiny Tim SISTER ANGELENE...elder nun who runs St. Beatrice s 21 Orphanage; kind and loving to her charges, but a taskmaster towards Mr. Turley TOPPER...not-so-bright friend of Fred; enamored 12 with Mary MARY...beautiful friend of Elizabeth 8 ELIZABETH...wife of Fred 7 FUTURE...stark character dressed and veiled in n/a black OLD JOE...lower-class pawnbroker friend of Mrs. 9 Dilber s POLLY...young teenage orphan n/a MARTHA...young teenage orphan n/a EXTRAS...as additional orphans n/a SETTING The stage is divided into three main playing areas. A raised platform STAGE RIGHT serves as the Old Man s office, represented by a table or desk, two chairs and a sign directly behind and above the chairs. (The sign is covered during most of the play by the Old Man s jacket.) A raised platform STAGE LEFT is Scrooge s bedroom, including a nightstand and bed with a drape or curtains behind it (to facilitate hidden entrances for ghosts). These two areas are onstage the entire play. During the play, various props are brought on and off to depict Scrooge s counting house, a classroom, Fred s parlor and a graveyard. For these scenes, reversible flats depicting interior and exterior scenes would be a nice touch. If more time is needed for scene changes, period music would be a good convention to consider. Also, change of scenery can begin while Scrooge and the spirits are still talking either in darkness or behind a curtain. iii

4 A Christmas Carol - Set Design iv

5 1 2 3 A CHRISTMAS CAROL PROLOGUE LIGHTS UP: OLD MAN S office in London. OLD MAN and THOMAS are seated behind a table. OLD MAN converses with SOLICITOR. OLD MAN: (Hands two documents to SOLICITOR.) And here you are. These should help with your fund drive. SOLICITOR: Yes, this should help very much. Thank you, sir and Merry Christmas! OLD MAN: You re quite welcome. (SOLICITOR EXITS RIGHT.) THOMAS: Grandfather, what did you give him? OLD MAN: I gave him a note to take to the grocer so he can purchase food for a Christmas dinner his league is preparing. I also gave one to purchase toys for the children. THOMAS: Does this mean I m not getting any toys? OLD MAN: (Laughs.) Not to worry, my boy. I do believe there are many packages with your name on them. THOMAS: But wouldn t I have more if you didn t give so much away? OLD MAN: Where s your Christmas spirit, lad? Don t you know that it is better to give than receive? THOMAS: But I like toys. OLD MAN: You, (Rubs top of THOMAS S head.) I believe, have plenty of toys! There are many children who wouldn t receive any if it wasn t for gifts like ours. THOMAS: No presents?! Why? Don t their parents buy them presents? OLD MAN: Some of them are not able. THOMAS: Well, what about their grandparents, then? OLD MAN: Some of them aren t able, either. THOMAS: Why? OLD MAN: There are many that are less fortunate than us. THOMAS: But that s because you work so hard. And Father works hard, too. Why do you and Father have to work so hard just to give our money away? OLD MAN: My boy, it sounds like you need to hear the story of Ebenezer Scrooge! THOMAS: Ebenezer Scrooge?! Who s he? OLD MAN: (Thinks.) Well, let me see if I can recall his story it s been many a year since he passed on, and your old grandfather s memory isn t what it once was. 1

6 1 2 3 THOMAS: I think your memory is fine, Grandfather. OLD MAN: Thank you, Thomas. Well, let s see. Ebenezer Scrooge was a businessman so concerned about his situation that it nearly consumed him. He was a very hard worker, even from the beginning why, he spent so much time at his business that he had no time for family. THOMAS: No time for family?! But you and father spend lots of time with us. OLD MAN: That we do, Thomas and we enjoy every minute of it. But Ebenezer Scrooge did not understand that. Life for him was the pursuit of money. So much so that eventually, he had no feelings for others at all. Why, it didn t bother him a bit if he took advantage of someone for his benefit. THOMAS: He doesn t sound like a very nice man. OLD MAN: To many he wasn t. And he would have spent his whole life a lonely, bitter man without some help. THOMAS: But who would help someone like that? OLD MAN: Well, maybe I should start at the beginning of Ebenezer Scrooge s story. (LIGHTS FADE OUT on office.) End of PROLOGUE ACT ONE Scene One LIGHTS FADE UP on Scrooge s counting house CENTER. BOB sits at the table in his coat and gloves, rubbing his hands to warm them. Looking around to see that no one can see, he moves to fireplace and picks a piece of coal out of the coal bucket and places it in the fire, then returns to his table. He has resumed writing as SCROOGE ENTERS RIGHT. SCROOGE: So Cratchit, I presume your work is progressing well. BOB: Oh, yes sir, Mr. Scrooge, yes sir! SCROOGE: Good, I don t pay you to dawdle. I pay you a good wage to do good work! BOB: Yes, Mr. Scrooge. SCROOGE: (Takes his coat off.) Cratchit! BOB: Yes, Mr. Scrooge? SCROOGE: (Examines the contents of the coal bucket.) It feels overly warm in here, Cratchit! And there appears to be a lump of coal missing. BOB: Ahhh well, sir I ahhh. 2

7 SCROOGE: Frivolously wasting my hard earned money again, I see. I shall deduct the cost of one lump of coal from your salary. BOB: (Dejected.) Yes sir, Mr. Scrooge. Very good, sir. (TURLEY, EMMA and LILLIAN ENTER RIGHT singing Here We Come A-Caroling. SCROOGE looks at them in disgust while BOB puts his pen down, smiles and nods his head to the music.) ORPHANS: (Sing.) Here we come a-caroling among the leaves so green, Here we come a-wandering, so fair to be seen. Love and joy come to you, and to you glad Christmas, too. And God bless you and send you a happy new year, And God send you a happy new year. SCROOGE: (Interrupts them at the end of the first verse. Spits the words back at them.) Here we come a-caroling! Bah, humbug! More like here we come a-bothering, you little urchins! That s what you are doing bothering two working men. Why, look what you ve done to my fool clerk. (ALL look at BOB, who is still lost in song.) BOB: (Sings.) And God send you a happy Huh? (Looks at everyone staring at him, then notices SCROOGE S glare.) Oh, dear! (Picks up his pen and goes back to work.) SCROOGE: I shall dock one quarter hour from your pay for that, Cratchit! BOB: Oh. Yes sir, Mr. Scrooge very good, sir. SCROOGE: (Back to the ORPHANS.) And as for the likes of you BEGONE!! (ORPHANS run to hide behind TURLEY.) Foolish nonsense this Christmas is, singing songs, making merry. Bah, humbug! (To TURLEY.) What, pray tell, can I do for you?! Shouldn t you be wandering along to bother someone who isn t busy with work?! TURLEY: Quite probably, sir, but I SCROOGE: And who are you, anyway are you a customer? TURLEY: No sir, I am Mr. Turley, caretaker and handyman at St. Beatrice s Orphanage. SCROOGE: I didn t think you were a customer. I recognize my customers. (To BOB.) And why is that, Cratchit? BOB: (Unsure.) Because they owe you money, sir? SCROOGE: Yes! Because they owe me money. Now get back to work, Cratchit! (To TURLEY.) My father taught me to never trust anyone who owes you money! Now, what can I do for you? Are you here for a loan? TURLEY: No sir, I don t require a loan, sir. 3

8 SCROOGE: If you don t owe me money and don t require a loan, why, pray tell, are you here? TURLEY: (Sheepish.) Well, sir. It is the Christmas season, sir. And well the orphans could use a good Christmas dinner some clothes and a few toys, sir. (ORPHANS peek around TURLEY to look sadly at SCROOGE.) SCROOGE: So the orphans want a fancy Christmas feast. And toys. And since you are not here for a loan, am I to assume that I am just to give you the funds to purchase these items? TURLEY: (Hopeful.) Well, yes, sir. That would be very nice, sir! (ORPHANS start to look at each other and smile.) SCROOGE: Yes, I suppose it would. Well, Mr. Turley, I shall tell you what I shall do. I shall give the orphans something. Something indeed! TURLEY: Oh, thank you, sir. SCROOGE: I shall give them (ORPHANS move in closer.) some advice my father gave me when I was young. (To ORPHANS.) GET A JOB!! TURLEY: But sir they re orphans! SCROOGE: That is of no concern of mine they look employable. TURLEY: But they are so young! SCROOGE: (Cuts him off.) Again, that is of no concern of mine. Good day, Mr. Turley! TURLEY: (To himself.) Oh, dear whatever am I to tell Sister Angelene when I come home empty-handed? EMMA: (Moves to SCROOGE.) But, don t you care what happens to us, mister? LILLIAN: (Moves to SCROOGE.) Yes, mister don t you care? SCROOGE: Care?! Why should I care about you? Humbug!! Does anyone care about me? Now, be gone! (ORPHANS run back behind TURLEY.) FRED: (ENTERS RIGHT.) I care about you, Uncle! (Walks over to SCROOGE and tips his hat.) Merry Christmas! SCROOGE: Fred. Am I to be plagued with fools today? FRED: (Ignores SCROOGE and turns to TURLEY.) I didn t mean to overhear your conversation, Mr. Turley, but I m afraid I did and while Uncle Scrooge cannot seem to part with any of his own wealth, I am not afraid to part with some of mine. (Reaches in his pocket to give TURLEY some coins.) There you are and Merry Christmas! TURLEY: Thank you kindly, sir and Merry Christmas to you, good fellow. 4

9 FRED: I only wish it could be more, but I don t have the resources that my dear uncle has. TURLEY: Everything helps our thanks again. Now, come along, children, I must go tell Sister Angelene the progress of my collecting. (Genuflects.) Lord above, give me strength! (While FRED and SCROOGE converse and TURLEY and the ORPHANS start to EXIT RIGHT, BOB sneaks away from his desk to give TURLEY a coin. TURLEY is about to thank BOB, but is quickly hushed with a handshake. TURLEY and ORPHANS EXIT RIGHT as BOB quietly moves back to his desk unnoticed by SCROOGE or FRED.) FRED: So Uncle, you still haven t been bitten by the holiday spirit, I see. SCROOGE: I prefer to not be bitten by anything that turns me into an idiot! Christmas bah, humbug! FRED: I m sure you don t mean that. SCROOGE: Oh mean it I do. FRED: Why do you have to be so gloomy, Uncle? Why certainly you re rich enough you could be more cheerful. SCROOGE: And you, nephew, are cheerful enough to be quite the fool. FRED: And what makes me so foolish? SCROOGE: Just look at yourself. Merry Christmas this, and Merry Christmas that. And giving away your money without a care. FRED: Ah, but I do care, Uncle that s why I share my money the yearround. It s just that during the holidays, there s more need, and so (Joyful.) I am more generous! SCROOGE: And what does that gain you? A trip to the poorhouse, I daresay! FRED: Now, now, giving away a bit of your money does much more good than keeping it! And one doesn t have to give just money why, my wife, Elizabeth, and I regularly donate our time to help the needy. SCROOGE: First you give away your money, then you spend your time time that should be spent earning a living on worthless endeavors as well? Where is the profit in that? FRED: Uncle Scrooge, there is more to this life than the pursuit of profit! And Christmas above all other times should show that to everyone. Why, what a time to reflect upon what we have and share those gifts with others (Moves to BOB.) even if it is just a good laugh and warm handshake (Shakes BOB S hand.) while wishing someone a Merry Christmas. Yes, Christmas has not done much for padding my wallet, but it certainly has padded my heart!

10 BOB: Oh yes, very good, sir. Very good, indeed! SCROOGE: (Walks sternly over to BOB.) Cratchit! Another outburst like that and you shall spend your Christmas seeking other employment! FRED: You shall do nothing of the sort, Uncle! (Takes SCROOGE by the arm and leads him away from BOB.) Come dine with us tomorrow. SCROOGE: Dine with you? Why have you given away so much that you need someone to pay for your precious Christmas dinner? FRED: Uncle! Elizabeth and I wish for you to join us for dinner. SCROOGE: (Breaks away.) I think not I shall be working. FRED: But it s Christmas must you work on Christmas? SCROOGE: You celebrate by having a feast. I will celebrate by improving my business situation. FRED: That is no way to celebrate Christmas, Uncle! SCROOGE: Good day, nephew. FRED: My wife is expecting you she is a wonderful cook, you know. And we have many games planned. SCROOGE: Good day. FRED: Well, the offer stands. Merry Christmas, Uncle Scrooge. SCROOGE: GOOD DAY! FRED: And Merry Christmas to you, too, Mr. Cratchit. (Takes a few steps away, then stops and turns towards SCROOGE.) Oh and Uncle Happy New Year! (EXITS RIGHT with a laugh.) SCROOGE: Idiot! That s what my sister, Fan, bore an idiot. (Looks at BOB, who is smiling and puts away his pen.) And, what do you think you are doing? BOB: (Pulls his watch out of his pocket and opens it.) It is seven o clock, sir my day is finished, sir. SCROOGE: (Reaches in his pocket for his watch, which isn t there.) Blasted watch went missing let me see that! (Walks over to look at BOB S watch.) Seven-o-one. You are quite close with your timing, Cratchit. BOB: Yes, sir. SCROOGE: (Goes back to his desk to produce a money bag, counts out coins in two stacks of five.) Nine and ten. (Takes one coin back and directs BOB S attention to it.) And this should suffice for the lump of coal and singing on the job. There you are, Cratchit. (Backhandedly pushes the coins from the desktop into BOB S hands.) BOB: Thank you, Mr. Scrooge and about tomorrow, sir? SCROOGE: I suppose you think you deserve the whole day off. 6

11 1 2 3 BOB: Well, I was hoping, sir. SCROOGE: And tell me that you won t feel a bit of guilt feasting at home, giving lavish gifts to your wife and children, knowing that there is work here to be done! Christmas! What an injustice to an employer! BOB: Yes, sir. SCROOGE: So you will be into work tomorrow. BOB: Yes, sir (Catches himself.) I mean no, sir. (Stammers.) Well, sir I I promised my wife that we would take the children to Christmas services and then SCROOGE: I thought as much. Well you can have your day off! But you best not be late the next morning! BOB: Yes, sir I will be on time, sir. Thank you, sir. (Puts on his cap and heads for the door. As he EXITS RIGHT, he looks over his shoulder.) Merry Christmas, Mr. Scrooge. SCROOGE: Blasted Cratchit! If he hadn t collected his pay, I d dock him a quarter-hour for that comment. Merry Christmas! Bah, humbug! (BLACKOUT on counting house CENTER. LIGHTS UP on office.) THOMAS: He sure wasn t a very nice man. Was he that mean to everyone? OLD MAN: Ebenezer Scrooge wasn t a kind person to be around or work for. THOMAS: Why would anyone work for someone so mean? OLD MAN: There were few jobs available then for poor people. If you were fortunate enough to have one, you did everything you could to keep it. THOMAS: Even to work for someone like him? OLD MAN: Even to work for someone like him. THOMAS: Well, I d never do it. OLD MAN: I hope you never have to work for someone like Mr. Scrooge. And, if you become an employer when you grow up, say after you take over my business from your father, I hope you treat your employees with respect. THOMAS: I will, Grandfather. OLD MAN: I m sure you will, Thomas. THOMAS: But if he was so mean to everyone, who helped him? OLD MAN: I shall continue with the story. (BLACKOUT. Strike counting house props except one desk and chair.) End of Scene One 7

12 ACT ONE Scene Two LIGHTS UP: Scrooge s bedroom. MRS. DILBER is doing a meager attempt of cleaning the bedposts. DILBER: Fifteen years! Fifteen years I ve been cookin and cleanin for the unpleasant bugger. An for what? A paltry pittance of a wage that wouldn t fatten a church mouse. Ever a nice job polishing the silver, Mrs. Dilber? No! Ever a wonderful stew, and by the way, your biscuits were marvelous, Mrs. Dilber? Oh, heaven forbid that would ever happen! (Plops down on the bed.) I don t think me poor heart could take the strain of that! And perish the thought of a Christmas bonus! Ha! The only bonus I get is to have im a warm bowl of gruel ready for is Christmas breakfast! Why, if it wasn t for me eight grubby mouths to feed and a husband who thinks a pint of ale is better than a job, I d tell Mr. Scrooge what e could do with his stew and biscuits! (Gets up and starts to make his bed, then stops to rant on.) And now here it is, the twenty-fourth of December, the night before our dear Lord and Savior s birth and e wants me to make im stew! (Mimics SCROOGE.) And a nice hearty beef stew on my nightstand for when I retire tonight, Mrs. Dilber. Well, beef stew indeed! The old fool wouldn t know beef stew if it butted im in the behind! Hah! It s mutton for im and a poor grade at that! Me butcher knows a package of old mutton for the skinflint, and the rest of the supper allowance in glorious beef for me! Pick a few moldy turnips and scrape up some mealy flour left behind at the market and the old crow s supper is complete. Some think it be stealin, but I m just following me dear mum s advice. The very advice she gave me when she got old Scrooge to hire me. She said Now e s a rich one, lass and they re the worst lot to work for! Never a thank ye, never a bonus or increase in pay. But don t you never mind that you look after yourself, lass them rich folk have so many things, they just don t notice when a few of em go missin on occasion! An look after meself, I have! A bit of beef here, (Reaches in her apron pocket to retrieve sugar tongs.) a sugar tongs there and me babies mouths are fed. And as for me Christmas bonus (Reaches in apron pocket to produce a pocket watch.) SCROOGE S VOICE: (OFF LEFT.) Mrs. Dilber! I am home! And I expect my stew on my nightstand after I m freshened up from the day! DILBER: Oh, dear Lord in Heaven e s home! (Drops the watch and sugar tongs.) An me without is stew on the nightstand. (Looks around in a panic, starts to move away, then remembers the watch and tongs, goes back to push them under the bed with her foot.) 8

13 Yes, Mr. Scrooge yer stew will be waiting for you when yer ready! (EXITS LEFT as the LIGHTS FADE OUT.) End of Scene Two ACT ONE Scene Three LIGHTS UP: The bedroom. SCROOGE is sitting on his bed in a robe over his nightshirt. He has a bowl and spoon in his hands. SCROOGE: Fools! Confounded fools! A man works hard for his money and fools want you to give it to the poor and needy. They wouldn t be poor and needy if they worked like any good man should. Humbug! (Takes a spoonful from his bowl. A NOISE is heard from under the bed. SCROOGE stands and looks around.) Huh? What was that? Harrumph! It was nothing. (Sits back down on the bed and begins to eat out of his bowl.) Nothing but humbug! (The RATTLE OF CHAINS is heard from under the bed. A CLOUD OF DUST rises from behind the bed followed by coughing.) What? (Stands again, but doesn t look back or notice the dust.) What is happening? (Looks down at his bowl.) Has my supper been poisoned? (Silence. SCROOGE looks back and forth, but not behind the bed.) Nothing simply nothing. (Sits.) All of the fools bothering me for my money have just gotten to me. I m just tired and hungry. (Starts to take another spoonful. The CHAINS RATTLE again, followed by more dust. LOUD COUGHING is heard from behind and under the bed. SCROOGE stands and turns, and reacts to the dust and noise.) What? Is someone there? Is someone under my bed?! (From behind the bed, MARLEY puts a hand on the bed and pulls himself up. He is very dusty and clothed in a tattered suit with a large bandage wrapped around his head. Chains are wrapped around him, which get hooked on things and tripped over as he moves. As he stands, he pats his suit, creating more of a dust cloud, which makes him cough loudly.) MARLEY: My God, man! Who is your housekeeper! (Brushes himself off.) It s been a very, very long time since she has dusted under your bed. SCROOGE: Who? (Looks up and down at MARLEY.) Who and what are you?! And what were you doing under my bed! MARLEY: Coughing myself silly, I believe. I do have allergies, you know. And why do you keep your good silver sugar tongs and pocket watch under there? 9 End of script sample.

14 PRODUCTION NOTES PROPERTIES ONSTAGE: OLD MAN S OFFICE: Raised platform with a table or desk, two chairs, top coat covering sign that reads Scrooge & Marley s Counting House Timothy Cratchit, Proprietor. There is a cane hidden somewhere on this set for the EPILOGUE. SCROOGE S BEDROOM: Nightstand (with inkwell, feather pen and parchment), bed with optional bedposts, drape or curtains behind bed. SCROOGE S COUNTING HOUSE (Scene One only): Two desks, stools, ledgers, feather pens and inkwells, coat rack, fireplace, stove, coal bucket, money bag with coins [in or on Scrooge s desk]. BROUGHT ON, PROLOGUE: Two bank notes (OLD MAN) BROUGHT ON, ACT ONE, Scene One: Coins (FRED, BOB) Pocket watch (BOB) BROUGHT ON, ACT ONE, Scene Two: Feather duster, pocket watch, sugar tongs (DILBER) BROUGHT ON, ACT ONE, Scene Three: Chains (MARLEY ) Stew bowl and spoon, robe (SCROOGE) BROUGHT ON, ACT ONE, Scene Four: Robe (SCROOGE) Reading book (BOY SCROOGE) BROUGHT ON, ACT TWO, Scene One: Pixie Dust (PRESENT) Crutch (TIM) Coins (TURLEY) BROUGHT ON, ACT TWO, Scene Two: Two settees, table, punch bowl, four punch glasses (STAGEHANDS) Kerchief as blindfold (TOPPER) Sprig of mistletoe (FRED) BROUGHT ON, ACT TWO, Scene Three: Gravestone for Timothy Cratchit with flowers, gravestone for Ebenezer Scrooge (STAGEHAND) Sack, pocket watch, sugar tongs, sleeve buttons and underwear bottoms [which match SCROOGE S under his nightshirt] (DILBER) 33

15 BROUGHT ON, ACT TWO, Scene Four: Gruel bowl, spoon (DILBER) BROUGHT ON, ACT TWO, Scene Five: A long table, one long bench, two short benches, shabby dinnerware for six, coat rack (STAGEHANDS) Large basket of bread and fruit (MRS. CRATCHIT) Large cooked turkey on platter (BOB) Crutch, large box of chocolates (TIM) Scroll note, coat, hat, scarf, gloves (SCROOGE) SOUND EFFECTS Chains rattling; coughing; clock striking one, two and three; offstage period music; bustling city sounds and street noises; offstage laughter (provided by cast members) Cloud of dust SPECIAL EFFECTS FLEXIBLE CASTING MR. TURLEY can be played as a female SISTER SERENITY. OLD JOE can be played as OLD JOSEPHINE. FUTURE can be played by the same actress as PAST. COSTUMES Almost all the cast will need period winter coats, gloves, scarves, hats, etc. to indicate the cold English winter. ORPHANS and CRATCHITS should look a bit shabbier than the others. DILBER wears an apron with pockets. SCROOGE wears long underwear, a nightshirt and a robe in ACT ONE, Scene Three. (The long underwear matches those that DILBER brings on in ACT TWO, Scene Three.) MARLEY wears a tattered, dusty suit and a head bandage. As an option, his teeth could be blacked out to show his ghastly lack of hygiene. SCROOGE wears a nightcap in ACT ONE, Scene Four. In ACT TWO, Scene Two, PRESENT has aged noticeably from the previous scene. Since there is a very short time period in which to make any change in make-up (wig, age lines, silver in hair), the quick addition of a cane, or possibly a hat to cover the hair, would suffice. The rest the actor could do with voice and physicality. 34

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