A Christmas Carol - Wayne State University's Department of Theatre

P l a y g u i d e2006 - 2007Theatre SeasonA Christmas Carolby Charles Dickens

About A Christmas CarolA Christmas Carol (fulltitle: A Christmas Carol in Prose,Being A Ghost Story of Christmas)is Charles Dickens’ “littleChristmas Book” first publishedon December 17, 1843 andillustrated by John Leech. Thestory met with instant success,selling six thousand copies withina week. Originally written asa potboiler to enable Dickensto pay off a debt, the tale hasbecome one of the most popularand enduring Christmas stories of all time.Ebenezer Scrooge has lost his only friend, his business partner Jacob Marley. Sevenyears have passed since Marley’s Christmas death, and Scrooge has not changed a bit. Hestill refuses to give to the poor, suggesting that for them perhaps the only place betterthan prison is the grave. He still only grudgingly gives his employee Christmas day off, andhe still refuses his nephew’s offer of Christmas dinner. He dismisses the whole holiday as a“Humbug.” But, on this particular Christmas, his dreary home will be visited by ghosts.First, Marley will arrive and, despite Scrooge’s refusals, he promises that furtherspirits will arrive. Christmas Past will bring Scrooge on a tour of his unpleasant childhood,his fall from grace with his father, and the loss of a fiancée; but he will show the good timestoo, when, as the employee of Fezziweg, Scrooge learned what a joyous holiday Christmascould be. Christmas Present will show him the celebrations going on without him: thesentimental family celebration of the Cratchits and the more rollicking party thrown by hisnephew Fred. But Christmas Present will also warn Scrooge that without more money, theCratchit family will lose its youngest and most fragile member, Tiny Tim.The Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come will show Scrooge the world after Scrooge’sdeath: His old business cronies will care not for his demise, his maid will steal the veryblankets from his deathbed, and Tiny Tim will in fact pass from this world.Scrooge awakens the next morning to find himself gloriously transformed. Not onlycan he once again laugh, but he will purchase dinner for the Cratchits, sing in church, andfinally visit Fred. We are told that from this day forward Scrooge will become well knownfor his devotion to the Christmas holiday.*Photo: A Christmas Carol, by Dean Morrissey3

Ebenezer ScroogeEbenezer Scrooge isthe main character in CharlesDickens’ 1843 novella AChristmas Carol. His last namehas come into the Englishlanguage as a byword formiserliness and misanthropy,traits displayed by Scrooge inthe exaggerated manner forwhich Dickens is well-known.The story of histransformation by the threeGhosts of Christmas (Past,Present and Future) has becomea defining tale of the Christmasholiday in some cultures.Scrooge’s phrase, “Bah, humbug!” has been used to express disgust with Christmastraditions in modern times. The inspiration for Charles Dickens’ character was from that ofthe Scot, Ebenezer Lennox Scroggie.For the greed of money, Ebenezer Scrooge let young love slip through his fingersand aged without the companionship of his nephew Fred, his only living family. He becamea profitable business man, but at the expense of fair wages and betterment of his clerk, BobCratchit.In Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, we find the curmudgeonly character Scroogegoing home to spend another Christmas alone. Only through the supernatural visits of theghost of his old partner and the three spirits of Christmas is he able to reconnect with hisfellow man and learn the joys of a generous heart. This tale takes Scrooge from being theantagonist to the protagonist in his own story, making it a classic of Victorian literature.“If I could work my will, every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips,should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart.He should!”Scrooge – A Christmas Carol4 *Photo: Alastair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge, A Christmas Carol, 1951

The Lessons of A Christmas CarolMorality PlayMorality plays are a type of theatricalallegory in which the protagonist is met bypersonifications of various moral attributeswho try to prompt him to choose a Godly lifeover one of evil. The plays were most popularin Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries;having grown out of the religiously basedmystery plays or miracle plays of the MiddleAges, they represented a shift towards a moresecular base for European theater.The Ghost of Christmas PastOne of three spirits that haunted the miserEbenezer Scrooge in order to prompt him torepent. It showed him scenes from his youth,that occurred on or around Christmas, inorder to demonstrate to him the necessity ofchanging his ways.The Ghost of Christmas PresentOne of three spirits that haunted the miserEbenezer Scrooge, in order to prompt him to repent. It transported him around the city, showinghim scenes of festivity and also deprivation that were happening as they watched. Among thosethey visited were Scrooge’s nephew, and the family of his clerk, Bob Cratchit. Before leaving him,the spirit showed Scrooge the anthropomorphic spectres of Ignorance and Want, appearing as twostarving children.The Ghost of Christmas Yet To ComeOne of three spirits that haunts the miser Ebenezer Scrooge, in order to prompt him to adopt amore caring attitude in life and avoid the horrid afterlife of his business partner, Jacob Marley. It isthe most fearsome of the three ghosts. It showed him scenes from the future, including the lack ofattention given to his funeral, the mourning of his clerk Bob Cratchit over the death of Tiny Tim,and finally his own grave. The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come appeared to Scrooge as a figureentirely muffled in a black hooded robe, except for a single gaunt hand with which it pointed. Itnever spoke or made any sort of vocal noise. It may have been inspired by visual representations ofthe Grim Reaper.*Photo: Mr. Fezziwig’s Ball, by John Leech, 18435

A Christmas Carol: Cast of CharactersEbenezer ScroogeThe main character of the play, A Christmas Carol. Hischaracter begins as a greedy man who is consumedwith his own needs. As the play progresses, Scroogelearns important life lessons that benefit him and thepeople around him.Bob CratchitCratchit is Scrooge’s dedicated clerk. Cratchit is avery kind and poor man. He remains humble andkind even when Scrooge mistreats him with his harshwords and actions. He loves his large family dearlyand they are of utmost importance in his life. Hestrives to do what is best for them.Mrs. CratchitShe is Bob Cratchit’s wife. She is a kind-heartedwoman who loves her husband and family.Tiny TimTim is Bob Cratchit’s son. He is crippled and theaudience identifies with him as a poor child in needof help.FredFred is Scrooge’s nephew. He is a gentle man wholoves Christmas. He always invites Scrooge over forthe holidays but is turned down.BelleA lovely woman who was going to marry Scroogebefore he became so greedy and selfish. She brokeoff the engagement and told him that maybe hismoney will bring him happiness.FanFan is Scrooge’s Sister and Fred’s mom. Scrooge seesher when the Ghost of Christmas past takes himback to the place he was born. Scrooge has fondmemories of his sister as his memories of the past arerekindled.FezziwigA jovial man who brings good cheer to the peoplearound him. He enjoys Christmas immensely and isknown for his grand holiday parties.Two Portly GentlemenTwo gentleman who visit Scrooge at the beginningof the play. They are looking for donations to helpthe poor. Scrooge is insensitive and rude to theirrequests for humanity and bids them farewell.Jacob MarleyMarley was Scrooge’s business partner when he wasalive. His greed and selfishness matches Scrooge’swith complete accuracy. When Marley dies, he iscondemned to wander through the world in heavychains. Marley has learned from his mistakes andwants to save Scrooge from the same fate. He returnsas a ghost because he wants Scrooge to change hisways before it is too late.The Ghost of Christmas PastThis is the first ghost that visits Scrooge and thechildlike personality takes Scrooge back in time toChristmases in his past. He ends his visit by tellingScrooge, “These are the shadows of the things thathave been. They are what they are, Ebenezer. Thepast can not be changed.”The Ghost of Christmas PresentThis is the second ghost that visits Scrooge. Thisghost shows Scrooge what is presently happeningduring Christmas celebrations. He is jovial and alwayshas food and drink close by.The Ghost of Christmas Yet to ComeA slender phantom, 12 feet tall, draped and hooded,comes to tell Scrooge of his lonely death. Thishooded ghost shows Scrooge what life will be like ifhe doesn’t change his ways.6

The Playwright: Charles DickensCharles John Huffam Dickens (February 7, 1812– June 9, 1870), pen-name “Boz,” was an Englishnovelist. During his lifetime, Dickens was not viewed asthe literary monolith we know him as today, but ratheras a popular entertainer of fecund imagination andcomic genius.Later critics, beginning with George Gissing andG.K. Chesterton, championed his mastery of prose,his endless invention of memorable characters and hispowerful social sensibilities, despite continued criticismfrom his more rarefied readers, like George HenryLewes, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf.The popularity of his novels and short storiesduring his lifetime and to the present is demonstratedby the fact that none have ever gone out of print.Dickens played a major role in popularizing the serialised novel. He is remembered bymany as the greatest writer of his time.His popularity has waned little since his death and he is still one of the best knownand most read of English authors. At least 180 movies and TV adaptations based onDickens’ works help confirm his success. Many of his works were adapted for the stageduring his own lifetime and as early as 1913 a silent film of The Pickwick Papers was made.His characters were often so memorable that they took on a life of their own outside hisbooks. “Gamp” became a slang expression for an umbrella from the character Mrs. Gampand “Pickwickian,” “Pecksniffian” and “Gradgrind” all entered dictionaries due to Dickens’original portraits of such characters who were quixotic, hypocritical or emotionlesslylogical. Sam Weller, the carefree and irreverent valet of The Pickwick Papers, was an earlysuperstar, perhaps better known than his author at first.It is likely that A Christmas Carol is his best-known story, with new adaptations almostevery year. It is also the most filmed of Dickens’ stories, many versions dating from the earlyyears of cinema. This simple morality tale with both pathos and its theme of redemption,for many, sums up the true meaning of Christmas and eclipses all other Yuletide stories innot only popularity, but in adding archetypal figures (Scrooge, Tiny Tim, the Christmasghosts) to the Western cultural consciousness.*Photo: Portrait of Charles Dickens, by William Frith7

Themes in A Christmas CarolSocial InjusticeA concept relating to theperceived unfairness orinjustice of a society in itsdivisions of rewards andburdens. The concept isdistinct from those of justicein law, which may or maynot be considered moralin practice. Opposition tosocial injustice is increasinglya platform of emergingpolitical parties.PovertyThe main understandings ofthe term include:- Descriptions of material need, typically including the necessities of daily living (food,clothing, shelter, and health care). Poverty in this sense may be understood as thedeprivation of essential goods and services.- Descriptions of social need, including social exclusion, dependency, and the ability toparticipate in society. This would include education and information.- Describing a lack of sufficient income and wealth. The meaning of “sufficient” varieswidely across the different political and economic parts of the world.MiserlinessMiser is the term for a person who is reluctant to spend money, usually to the pointwhere he or she forgoes even basic comforts. It derives from the Latin, “miser,” meaning“poor” or “wretched.” In fiction, a miser is a stock character: a wealthy, greedy man wholives miserably in order to save and increase his treasure. Dickens’ Ebenezer Scrooge is anobvious example.MisanthropyMisanthropy is a general dislike of the human race. It is not dislike of individual humanbeings, but rather dislike of the features shared by all humanity throughout place andtime, including oneself. A misanthrope is thus a person who exhibits a general dislike ofhumankind.8*Photo: Winter Nostalgia, by Marcel Lorange

Selected ResourcesA Christmas CarolBooksDickens, Charles. A Christmas Carol. HarperCollins; 1st Edition, 2001.Kaye, Marvin. The Last Christmas of Ebenezer Scrooge: The Sequel to A Christmas Carol. Wildside Press, 2005.Collins, Ace. Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas. Zondervan, 2003.Davis, Paul. The Lives and Times of Ebenezer Scrooge. Yale University Press, 1990.FilmA Christmas Carol (Original B&W Version). Nettlefold Studios, 1951.A Christmas Carol. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1938.The Muppet Christmas Carol - Kermit’s 50th Anniversary Edition. Walt Disney Pictures, 1992.A Christmas Carol. Hallmark Entertainment, 1999.Charles DickensDickens, Charles. Charles Dickens: Four Novels. Gramercy, 1993.Stanley, Diane. Charles Dickens: The Man Who Had Great Expectations. Harper Collins, 1993.Davis, Paul. Charles Dickens A to Z: The Essential Reference to His Life and Work. Checkmark Books, 1999.Encyclopedia Britannica Onlinewww.britannica.comWebsitesMSN Encartawww.encarta.msn.comWikipedia On-line Encyclopediawww.wikipedia.com9

Before Arriving to the TheatreThank you for participating in the 2006-2007 seasonat the Bonstelle Theatre. In order to make theexperience enjoyable and educational for all studentgroups, guidelines for proper theatre etiquette havebeen established. Please share these house rules withother chaperones and your students.1. Audience members are toremain seated, keeping aislesfree, as actors sometimes enterand exit through the audience.Students need to be instructedto remain in their seats duringthe acts, as leaving the theatreduring the performance couldinterfere with the show.2. Teachers are to remain in thetheatre during the entire show,seated among their students,to help the theatre staff controlany problems that may ariseduring the performance.3. Please keep lunches on thebus and all food, drink, candyand gum out of the theatre.If lunches cannot be left onthe bus, make sure they arewell marked. We will providea space until the conclusionof the performance. Pleasenotify us in advance if you willbe needing this service. Alsoplease remind students todispose of chewing gum priorto entering the theatre.4. Keep in mind that theactors can see and hear theaudience members. It takesa tremendous amount ofconcentration to performin front of a live audience.Live theatre is different fromtelevision and movies. Talkingdirectly to the actors or eachother while the show is inprogress could prevent theactors from doing their bestjob for you.5. Please let your studentsand chaperones know thatcopyright laws prohibitphotographs of the stage oractors anytime during yourtheatre experience. Flashesduring the performance alsocreate a disruption for boththe actors and other audiencemembers.6. Electronic devices suchas CD or MP3 players, cellphones, pagers and laserpointers are not allowed inthe theatre. The noises andsound waves of these types ofdevices can interfere with theheadsets the stage managerand crew use during theperformance. If these devicescannot be left on the bus,ushers will provide a safe placefor them to be stored duringthe performance. If ushersfind people using these devicesduring the performance, theywill be confiscated until theconclusion of the show.7. Please educate all studentsand chaperones that the stageis a creation by our designteam that is to be viewed bythe audience. Actors and stagehands are the only peopleallowed to walk or sit on thestage.8 . S t u d e n t s s h o u l d b eencouraged to listen carefully,respond to the story (laugh,applaud, etc.) and quiet downquickly to listen again. Whenthey are actually playing anactive part in the performance,t h e y d i s c o v e r t h e t r u eexcitement of the theatre.Here are some ways that you can help us run thestudent matinees in a more efficient and time savingmanner:1. Plan to arrive at the theatre by 9:30 a.m. as the show isscheduled to begin promptly at 10 a.m. If you will be latedue to bus arrival, traffic, etc., please contact Group Sales andServices at (313) 577-0852.2. Once you arrive at the theatre, please pick up your seatingcard at the box office before bringing the students off the bus.Have the students enter the theatre in an orderly fashion andwe will direct them to their seats as quickly as possible.3. If your group has to wait in the lobby before being seated,please help in keeping the noise level down to assist incommunication and more timely seating.Bus Instructions for AttendingStudent MatineesWhile attending the Bonstelle Theatre, buses should park bythe “No Standing” signs along the streets. There are usuallyseveral places along Woodward Avenue. Please do not parkin front of the lots surrounding the theatre. Those lots do notbelong to the theatre. Please remember that Woodward is amajor thoroughfare and many other buses will be trying to dropoff and park as well. Please be patient and considerate duringthis potentially stressful time and always put the safety of thestudents first.Ticket ExchangesTo change your number of tickets, please call the box officeat least two weeks in advance. Once the group leader hasconfirmed the number of tickets reserved, the number cannotbe reduced.TalkbacksYour group is invited to join us for a 10-15 minute Talkbackimmediately following the student matinee performance. ATalkback is a question-and-answer session with the actorsand crew. This discussion is a great opportunity for studentsto ask questions concerning the development of a theatreperformance. Students are encouraged to use this time toanalyze the script and language. This optional session is agreat way to meet many of the Michigan Arts Education andLanguage Arts curriculum guidelines by discussion. If youhave any questions regarding the Talkbacks, please contactGroup Sales and Services at (313) 577-0852.10

The History of the Bonstelle TheatreBefore 1951, the University Theatre at WayneState University produced plays in small quarters at theUniversity or in the Detroit Institute of Arts Auditorium.In 1951, the University rented for the Theatre thehistoric Bonstelle Playhouse, prominent both in thecultural history of Detroit and in the history of theAmerican theatre. Purchase of this building at 3424Woodward by the University was completed in 1956.The name Bonstelle was restored in 1963, when thebuilding became known as the Bonstelle Theatre.Jessie Bonstelle, managing director of the famousBonstelle Players, moved into the newly remodeledBonstelle Playhouse in October of 1924, leaving theGarrick Theatre, which she had used for several seasons.The new thetre was the former Temple Beth El, designedby famous architect Albert Kahn. It was redesigned as a theatre by C. Howard Crane, who also designedthe Theatre Guild Playhouse. The Bonstelle Playhouse opened on January 1, 1925. The theatre wasreorganized in 1928 as the Detroit Civic Theatre, and continued under Miss Bonstelle’s directionthrough the season of 1931 - 32. Miss Bonstelle died October 4, 1932.In eight years she had averaged twenty-seven and one-half productions a year; her longestseason, 1926 - 27, saw 35 plays. Known as the “maker of stars,” Miss Bonstelle employed in hercompany many who have become famous, such as Katherine Cornell, William Powell, George Seaton,Melvyn Douglas, Gale Sondergaard and Jessie Royce Landis. Her musical director was Nicholas Gargusi,later first violinist for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic, and her dancedirector was Mme. Cassan, the only person authorized by Pavlova to teach her method.During this period she made her theatre a focal point of activity for schools, churches,commercial establishments and clubs in the community. Church services, speeches and concerts wereheld in the theatre. She and her theatre were known throughout the country and she was highlyrespected by many prominent people in the profession.Following Miss Bonstelle’s death, the theatre was renamed the Bonstelle Civic Theatre, andopened its ninth season as she had planned. It closed during the Great Depression; however, and laterhoused the Mayfair motion picture theatre.Since taking occupancy of the theatre in 1951, WSU Theatre has annually produced a season offrom five to nine plays at the Bonstelle. Bonstelle alumni include: S. Epatha Merkerson (Law and Order),Max Wright (Alf), Tom Sizemore (Saving Private Ryan, Heat, Relic), Robert Lambert (the Broadway revivalof Gypsy with Tyne Dale), Robert Cicchini (Godfather III), David Ramsey (TV’s Good News; Pay It Forward)and Lily Tomlin. After the purchase of the building in 1956, extensive renovations were made, includingthe installation of a new electronic switchboard for stage lighting. Recently this was replaced by anupdated light control system.The Department now offers a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre, available to all incomingstudents. After two years on this track, students may either continue toward this degree or audition forapplication into the Bonstelle’s Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Theatre, which is a more work-intensiveprogram. It is available in acting, directing, and scenic, lighting and costume design/technology. Moreinformation about the undergraduate acting program, audition dates and the numerous scholarshipopportunities are available by contacting the Theatre Department Office.The Bonstelle Theatre is currently one of the University’s two major theatres, the other being theHilberry Theatre at Cass and Hancock, home of the University’s renowned graduate repertory company.11

Directions to the Bonstelle TheatreComing from the VIA DirectionsWEST I-94EAST I-94To I-75 exit, SOUTH. Take 1st exit (Mack).Turn RIGHT. Take to Woodward (about 10blocks), turn LEFT. Take Eliot (1 block southof Mack).To I-75 exit SOUTH. Take to 1st exit (Mack).Turn RIGHT. Take to Woodward, turn LEFTand go 1 block to Eliot.SOUTH I-75To Lodge 10, NORTH. Take to Forest exit,turn RIGHT. Take to Eliot.NORTH I-75To Mack exit, turn RIGHT. Take toWoodward, turn LEFT. Take to Eliot.NORTHLodge (M-10)To Forest/Warren exit, turn LEFT on Forest.Take to Woodward, turn RIGHT. Take toEliot.WEST I-96Take to I-94 exit, EAST. See directionscoming from WEST I-94.The Bonstelle Theatreis located at 3424Woodward Ave. one (1)block south of Mack.To reach Group Salesand Services, call313-577-0852.12