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In life, he was greedy like Scrooge. Marley comes back as a spirit to give Scrooge a warning. Ghost of Christmas Past: One of the spirits who visits Scrooge on ...
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1 ALLIANCE THEATRE INSTITUTE // A CHRISTMAS CAROL STUDY GUIDE
Created as part of the Alliance Theatre’s Dramaturgy by Students program
By: Charles Harper and Tess Keller’s fifth grade gifted class at Inman Elementary School
Courtney Moors-Hornick, Teaching Artist
Rebecca Pogue, Head of Elementary School Programs
By CHARLES DICKENS
Adapted by DAVID H. BELL
Directed by LEORA MORRIS
On the COCA-COLA STAGE
2 ALLIANCE THEATRE INSTITUTE // A CHRISTMAS CAROL STUDY GUIDE
4 ALLIANCE THEATRE INSTITUTE // A CHRISTMAS CAROL STUDY GUIDE AU T H O R S T U DY
Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812 in Portsmouth, England to John and Elizabeth Dickens. One of seven children, young Charles went to work in a boot polish factory when he was only 12 years old. His father was sent to Marshalsea Prison, a debtor’s prison, during this time, and these experiences would shape his writing in the years to come. Like many authors, Charles got his start as a journalist. In 1836, he published his first novel, The Pickwick Papers , which was followed by many more books and stories. Charles wrote A Christmas Carol in 1843, a story which led to him being called “The creator of Christmas,” because his story connected Christmas with giving and popularized the holiday. He married Catherine Hogarth in 1836, and they had ten children. Charles’ stories were famous in his lifetime and many are still commonly read today. Charles Dickens died on June 9, 1870 at the age of 58.
The Pickwick Papers
Timeline of Important Works by Dickens
1837
Oliver Twist
A Christmas Carol
Martin Chuzzlewit
David Copperfield
Bleak House
A Tale of Two Cities
5 ALLIANCE THEATRE INSTITUTE // A CHRISTMAS CAROL STUDY GUIDE P L AY W R I G H T S T U DY
David H. Bell is a director, choreographer, lyricist, and author. In addition to this adaptation of A Christmas Carol , he has also adapted the musical comedy Hot Mikado. Mr. Bell has directed more than 20 productions, both on and off-Broadway, including The Grapes of Wrath , Chess , Romeo and Juliet , Blood Knot, and The Boys From Syracuse. Bell’s work is known internationally, and he has been the recipient of several awards for his direction and choreography, including the Joseph Jefferson awards in Chicago and the Helen Hayes awards in D.C.
Compiled by Hadley D., David R., and Malachi M.
7 ALLIANCE THEATRE INSTITUTE // A CHRISTMAS CAROL STUDY GUIDE C H A R AC T E RS
Ebenezer Scrooge: A bitter old man who runs a counting house, lending money and charging interest to his borrowers. Scrooge is greedy, rude, and selfish. On Christmas Eve, he is taken on a great journey by the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future.
Jacob Marley: Scrooge’s old business partner who died seven years prior to the beginning of the story. In life, he was greedy like Scrooge. Marley comes back as a spirit to give Scrooge a warning.
Ghost of Christmas Past : One of the spirits who visits Scrooge on Christmas Eve. This Ghost shows Scrooge his past, from a young boy at school to a young man entering the world of business.
Ghost of Christmas Present : One of the spirits who visits Scrooge on Christmas Eve. This Ghost shows Scrooge the inner lives of the people he knows.
Ghost of Christmas Future : One of the spirits who visits Scrooge on Christmas Eve. This Ghost shows Scrooge what could happen if he does not change his ways.
Bob Cratchit : Head of the Cratchit household, husband to Mrs. Cratchit and father to the five Cratchit children. Bob works as a clerk for Ebenezer Scrooge. He is a kind, loving, and charitable man who enjoys joking around with his children, especially his youngest, Tiny Tim. Bob does not make a lot of money, but his family’s happiness is worth everything to him.
Mrs. Cratchit : Bob’s wife and the mother the five Cratchit children. She and her husband teach their children to be giving and caring. Mrs. Cratchit is tough but kind and loving.
Wyatt Cratchit : One of the Cratchit boys.
Peter Cratchit : One of the Cratchit boys.
Melinda Cratchit : One of the Cratchit girls.
Martha Cratchit : One of the Cratchit girls. Martha works as an apprentice to a milliner (hat maker).
Tiny Tim : The youngest Cratchit child. Tiny Tim is sick and uses crutches to walk. Tiny Tim feels sympathetic towards Scrooge because he believes that Scrooge is lonely.
Fred : The only remaining living relative of Scrooge, Fred is Scrooge’s nephew. Fred’s mother, Fan, was Scrooge’s sister. He is kind, loving, and charitable. Fred loves Christmas and tries every year to involve his uncle in the holiday.
Alice : Fred’s loving and generous wife.
Complied by Sara Kate L. and Zehra S.
8 ALLIANCE THEATRE INSTITUTE // A CHRISTMAS CAROL STUDY GUIDE
Fan : Fan was Scrooge’s sister, and Fred’s mother. When they were children, Fan was kind and bubbly towards Scrooge. She died when Fred was a young boy.
Dick Wilkins : Scrooge’s childhood friend and acquaintance. Wilkins and Scrooge part ways after their apprenticeship with the Fezziwigs. Wilkins cannot stand to see the Fezziwigs lose their business and livelihood, and he faults Scrooge for standing by and watching it happen.
Mudge : Young Scrooge and Wilkins’s cruel schoolmaster.
Mr. Fezziwig : Scrooge’s first employer. He is caring toward young Scrooge, almost like a father to him. The Fezziwigs lose their business and belongings at an auction overseen by Jacob Marley.
Mrs. Fezziwig : Mr. Fezziwig’s wife, a sweet, caring woman who cries often.
Belle : Belle was Scrooge’s fiancée. She broke off the engagement when she felt Scrooge’s greed had overtaken him. She is quite the opposite of Scrooge: kind, benevolent, and courteous.
Mr. Pritchitt : An auctioneer.
Tom Watkins : A street vendor who sells goods from a cart. Tom and his wife Missy and son Matthew hope to open a proper shop, but they owe a debt to Scrooge that they can’t yet afford to pay. Because of this, Scrooge has Tom arrested and sent to Marshalsea Prison.
Missy Watkins : Tom’s wife and Matthew’s mother. Missy is a hardworking and caring street vendor.
Matthew Watkins : Tom and Missy’s son, a sweet and hardworking boy.
Topper : A friend of Alice and Fred’s.
Bess : A friend of Alice and Fred’s.
Mrs. Dilber : Mrs. Dilber is Scrooge’s housekeeper. Although she doesn’t like working for Scrooge, she cares for him and shows him kindness.
Ignorance : A childlike being who represents ignorance, or a lack of knowledge.
Want : A childlike being who represents want or need.
Peg : A beggar in the mob who tries to raid Scrooge’s household.
Joe : Another beggar in the mob who tries to raid Scrooge’s household.
Mr. Fouquet : French photographer at the Fezziwig party.
Others : Businessmen, Charity workers, Carolers, Lamplighter, Lamplighter’s Son, Officer
C H A R AC T E RS
10 ALLIANCE THEATRE INSTITUTE // A CHRISTMAS CAROL STUDY GUIDE S E T T I N G
The River Thames is 215 miles long and flows through southern London. It is north of Marshalsea Prison. Mostly saltwater, it is the largest river in England. During the Victorian Era, the River Thames was a popular place for sports such as the Henley Regatta (boat race).
Marshalsea Prison was located in Southwark, London. It was known as a debtor’s prison because half of the prisoners kept there were in debt (owed money). Marshalsea was open from 1373 to 1842 and was demolished in the 1870s. Conditions in the prison were poor, and many prisoners died of starvation. When Charles Dickens was only 12, his father was sent to Marshalsea because of a debt he owed.
11 ALLIANCE THEATRE INSTITUTE // A CHRISTMAS CAROL STUDY GUIDE A B O U T V I C TO R I A N E N G L A N D
In Victorian England, a lamplighter was a person employed to light and extinguish street lamps, especially those burning gas. Lamplighters were an important part of the city, because they lit up the streets, allowing people to feel safer.
A gas street lamp only illuminated a few feet around its post. The light was more to provide distant points of brightness to aim for; in parts of London, they were 65 meters apart (over 200 feet!). Every night, the lamps needed to be lit by hand, and each morning, the flame needed to be put out. Teams of lamplighters would use ladders and long poles to spark the gas. Lamp posts had a horizontal bar towards the top of the post to provide a secure rest for the lamplighters’ ladder.
Above left: The cover of ‘Daylight by Night,’ a 1931 publication put together by the British Commercial Gas Association, depicts the soft glow of London’s gas-lit streets. Credit: The British Commercial Gas Association.
.
13 ALLIANCE THEATRE INSTITUTE // A CHRISTMAS CAROL STUDY GUIDE A B O U T V I C TO R I A N E N G L A N D
In the play, Scrooge runs a counting house , which was an apartment or building set aside for the keeping of accounts for financial books and the exchanging of money. Scrooge was a money lender. People borrowed money from him with a promise to pay it back later.
The currency (coins and money system) used in Victorian England had existed for hundreds of years. Coins were minted in gold and silver.
The pound was represented by a £ sign, the shilling by a ‘s’ and the penny by a ‘d.’
1 shilling = 12 pennies (or “pence”). In the play, Bob Cratchit earns 15 shillings a week.
1 sovereign = 1 pound (£).
Lower value coins included the penny, the halfpenny (ha’penny) (½) and the farthing, worth a quarter (¼) of a penny.
Compiled by Zach L. and Aijalon B.
Arthur C. Michael’s illustration shows Cratchit in the “Tank,” Scrooge’s open door, and Scrooge beyond in his “counting-house.”
14 ALLIANCE THEATRE INSTITUTE // A CHRISTMAS CAROL STUDY GUIDE T H E M E S
A theme is a moral or lesson of the story, or messages that are explored in the story.
Discuss these themes together as a class!
“Change can be good, and people can change over time.”
Ebenezer Scrooge changes many times throughout the story. When he was young, he did not want to become like his father, who was selfish and had debts. For a while, Scrooge was a caring person, but unfortunately as he got older, he became very greedy and miserly. After the Ghosts take Scrooge on the journey, he changes again and becomes kinder and more generous. He even gives his employee Bob Cratchit a raise!
“If you are isolated you will not connect to the outside world.”
Isolation, or keeping to yourself, can be harmful. Young Scrooge experienced isolation from his father. After his sister, Fan, died, Scrooge isolated himself even more. Over time, Scrooge even ignored his only remaining family member, his nephew Fred. Scrooge and Fred barely talked to each other or spent any time together because Scrooge was stubborn, so they both felt isolated.
Isolation made Scrooge mean and selfish.
“We can learn from our past to change our future.”
The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future took Scrooge on a journey through time. This journey made Scrooge realize that he had transformed over time and that he may want to change some of his bad choices and make better choices in the future.
16 ALLIANCE THEATRE INSTITUTE // A CHRISTMAS CAROL STUDY GUIDE
WORD (Part of Speech) DEFINITION IN CONTEXT
Abed (adv.) In bed “You should be abed, Tim. You’ll never get healthy without your rest.”
Aeneid (n.) A heroic poem by Virgil that tells of a hero’s good deeds
“I expect the first five chapters of the Aeneid memorized and word perfect, or you’ll have the rod to show for it.”
Apprentice (n.) A person who is learning from a skilled employer
“He’s my apprentice, he must do as I tell him.”
Arrears (n.) Money that is owed and should have been paid earlier.
“In full. Mr. Watkins — that is one hundred and twenty five pounds. You are in arrears.”
Auction (n.) A selling of someone’s property
“You said it would not be a public auction.”
Auld Lang Syne (n.) A song people sing at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Means “times long past.” Robert Burns popularized the song in the 1700s.
“Now smile as if you were making a proper holiday toast - “Auld Lang Syne” - that sort of thing.”
Blimey (informal, slang)
British term used to express surprise, excitement, or alarm.
“Blimey – a whole thirty pounds?”
VO CA B U L A RY
Compiled by Hailey F., Emory N., and Brynlee C.
Blind Man’s Buff (n.) A game in which a blindfolded player tries to catch others.
“What shall we play?” “Blind Man’s Buff — and Topper you’re first.”
17 ALLIANCE THEATRE INSTITUTE // A CHRISTMAS CAROL STUDY GUIDE VO CA B U L A RY
WORD (Part of Speech) DEFINITION IN CONTEXT
Candelabra (n.) An instrument for holding candles
“Next, we have two Minton porcelain candelabra. A matched pair.”
Caroler (n.) A singer of carols A group of carolers starts singing.
Cavorting (v.) Jump or dance around excitedly
The stage is rocked with the noisy cavorting of boys let out on school holiday.
Coach (n.) A horse-drawn carriage
“Hurry up! The coach won’t wait for us forever!”
Compound interest (n.)
Interest is the amount of money a lender or financial institution receives for lending out money. Compound interest is interest earned from the original principal (the debt owed), plus accumulated interest.
“He was a fool who could never grasp the dangers of compound interest.”
Confide (v.) Tell someone a secret and trust them not to repeat it
“Wilkins, can I confide in you?”
Dawdle (v.) To waste time and move slowly
“And don’t dawdle back - we have more deliveries than we have time to make them.”
Debt (n.) Money owed or due to someone
“Better men than Fezziwig have been ruined by debt.”
Destitute (adj.) Poor; lacking necessities
“Mr. Scrooge, it is usual to make some slight provision for the poor and destitute who suffer greatly for want of common comfort.”
19 ALLIANCE THEATRE INSTITUTE // A CHRISTMAS CAROL STUDY GUIDE VO CA B U L A RY
WORD (Part of Speech) DEFINITION IN CONTEXT
Invest (v.) Increase the value of something
“In this age of steam, steel, and sea trade, you invest in progress and the profit will take care of itself.”
Lamplighter (n.) A person employed to light and extinguish street lamps, especially those burning gas
The Cratchits exit noisily as the Lamplighter makes his rounds with his son.
Parsimonious (adj.) Unwilling to spend money or use resources
“It’s a tribute to your parsimonious old Uncle Scrooge?”
Mate (n.) British term for a friend or buddy
“Stand like you do when you’re out with your mates.”
Miser (n.) A person who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible
“I know he’s your family, Fred — but all society agrees he’s a most notorious miser.”
Mortgage (n.) An agreement between you and a lender that allows you to borrow money to purchase a home, and gives the lender the right to take your property if you fail to repay the money you’ve borrowed
“I haven’t come to beg a mortgage or ask a loan, only to invite you to Christmas dinner.”
Mum (n.) British term for Mom or Madam
“My mum went to fetch him out.”
20 ALLIANCE THEATRE INSTITUTE // A CHRISTMAS CAROL STUDY GUIDE VO CA B U L A RY
WORD (Part of Speech) DEFINITION IN CONTEXT
Promissory note (n.) A written promise by one person to pay another person
“Mr. Watkins, to warm your Christmas dinner, I suggest you set fire to your promissory note.”
Parsonage (n.) A church house provided for a member of the clergy
“It’s Widow Karp. Sir — I heard she burnt the pies at the parsonage off Hanover Square.”
Pippin (n.) British term for apple
“The goods you ordered, madame. Oranges, dried pippins, candied plums, and a sack of chestnuts.”
Prison Barge (n.) A prison boat that held the overflow of prisoners when prisons on land were out of room.
“Your father sent word there’s no room in the clink- so they’re trying to move him out to a prison barge.”
Riotous (adj.) Wild and uncontrolled behavior
“I want to take a photograph of my two apprentices having riotous fun.”
Sovereign (n.) A former British gold coin worth one pound
“I have a gold sovereign for each of you for Christmas.”
Sultanas (n.) A small raisin used in foods such as puddings and cakes
“I gots a cart full of plums, almonds, sultanas, and candied fruit.”
Surveying (v.) To look carefully and thoroughly
He hums as he stands surveying his office, assuring himself all is in place.
Taper (n.) A slender candle “Here’s the taper — what’s your first wish?”
Upstage To move towards the back of the stage
A large churchyard gate flies in and two figures with umbrellas facing upstage are revealed.
