Ebenezer
This musical extravaganza is a work of strong melody and intelligent lyric recounting Dickens’s wonderful story of Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol. But we meet an angry despairing Scrooge who has had enough of life. We will be confronted with the death of Tiny Tim, the tragedy for his mother and so much more before the remarkable encouraging transformation of Scrooge himself.
It is like no other Christmas Carol you have experienced.
Supplied on Compact Disc (complete with full stage play) this is a tremendous theatrical experience to be enjoyed at home (particularly for children who will clamour to speak the verse!) Professional interest is welcomed.
Please click Here to download the full stage play as a word document.
MP3s ♫ are now available as full length 128k/sec tracks.
Stageplay – (abridged) :
(Full stageplay includes more detailed text and complete verse).
Act One
Scene One: The Street
♫ Who is this Man? :
An introduction sung by Bob Cratchit directed to the audience. Bob then describes :
…A squeezing wrenching scraping man of course
Beyond redemption and without remorse
A clutching covetous old sinner true
Born from the depths of a black witches stew…
But then Ebenezer appears …
♫ Who stole my heart? :
The man himself challenges the audience believing someone amongst them has stolen his heart. He then addresses the audience:
I stand alone
In this godforsaken world void of joy
It’s been like this
Since my heart was taken as a young boy..
Scene Two – Scrooge’s Bedroom
We hear him sigh…three times. He begins to speak… slowly …
Alone, alone and lonely again
This aspect of Hell, this most cruellest pain
A curse, a curse and there’s more to dread
Pray inform me true who would want me dead …
We hear the distant sound of iron chains being nosily dragged over a stony surface. Jacob Marley! But Jacob is dead! Very definitely cold and dead! Yet….
♫ Jacob Dances :
He has a message. It is a burden of a message to give and nothing is said until the music ends when finally Jacob confronts Ebenezer:
Beware your soul
So empty and lost
Go find your heart
Consider not cost…
Jacob then walks out of the door. Scrooge screams. And it is from his heart – it has begun the journey to its new life…
A spectre floats above the audience before gliding towards the stage where it gently lands to take the form of a young child. The mysterious visitor dances slowly around the room then confronts Scrooge:
I am the Spirit – the first of three
With a journey planned – you’ll come with me!…
Ebenezer shouts out in confusement “Oh, my wretched heart!” – but then the familiar darkness returns.
Scene Three: Fezziwigs Party
Scrooge then finds himself in a ballroom where people wander in from both wings. Ebenezer rushes to greet them but they do not see him. Scrooge runs around Mr Fezziwig who is smiling and waving his hands in joy and who then proclaims:
…The greedy man fullness in purse
Will die alone coffined in curse…
♫ Fezziwig Dances! :
There is much celebration and gaiety! As the music ends everyone one moves to the side of stage and the scene slowly darkens as Belle - his only love - appears from a corner and faces the audience centrestage. She remembers:
To love being in love I remember fondly well
Yet here am I alone
Since the love of my life curtailed Heaven into Hell
And a good heart to stone.
To love being in love, I remember fondly well…
♫ "Where is His Heart?" :
Belle laments for her lost love. We hear him weep from the darkness for some time... but then there is the relief of silence.
INTERMISSION
Act Two:
Scene Four – Scrooge’s Bedroom
The second visitor soon appears in one corner beneath a soft light. When the music ends Ebenezer is dragged and thrown at the feet of this huge spirit who proclaims:
I am the Spirit – second of three
Come closer my man – consider me
Consider my years – I age so fast
Lets look at today – lest it be past …
Scene Five – The Cratchits Home
♫ The Cratchits :
When the celebratory music begins the family share their love by dancing. We see a movement to the side of the stage. It is Ebenezer. He could do more for this family – and, now, he knows it! Then Tiny Tim hobbles centrestage and the soft light falls onto him alone.
Tiny Tim sings to (confronts?) the audience his gentle lament perhaps questioning their compassion. Finally the light fades.
Scene Six – Scrooge’s Bedroom
The light returns and we see Ebenezer in prayer. He moans “Oh, my wretched heart! What have I done? Oh, the pain of it all! ”
He rushes over throwing himself at the feet of this menacing presence and begs for forgiveness, “Forgive me. Forgive me. Show me no more. No more. Please!” The spirit speaks in a deep emotionless voice:
I am the spirit – the last of three
Prepare for the worst – your destiny…
Scene Seven – Tiny Tim’s bedroom
Mrs. Cratchit is sitting by a bed on which lies a motionless Tiny Tim.
♫ “Sleep Baby Sleep” :
Mrs Cratchit sings the sad lullaby no mother should ever consider. Ebenezer looks on. The music ends and Mrs Cratchit leans over to kiss her son then pulls the sheets over him. He is dead. The crying is silent.
Scene Eight – The Graveyard
From the left of stage, Ebenezer now walks slowly and obediently, following the spirit into an unkempt poorly lit graveyard.
♫ A Spirited Death :
The music commences and the other two spirits and Jacob Marley appear. They all dance accusingly and mockingly around Ebenezer. Then suddenly it is dark. A soft light falls down on to Ebenezer who remains in his nightgown.
Scene Nine - The Street
He lifts his head and looks around trying to make sense of his surroundings – but he cannot know where he is. He addresses the audience:
We have seen the wilderness of a heartless fool
A pitiful soul lost where the farthing did rule
Is there not more? Who stole my heart? We heard him ask
So audacious was he before taken to task…
A strong explosive white light bursts down upon Ebenezer who falls back in surprise. He does not move. He is in the street where we first met him. Then the bells chime their welcome.
The joyous bells of the most special of special days begin to ring! He has to dance!
♫ “I Feel Wonder, Wonderful!” :
Ebenezer Scrooge celebrates the beginning of his good life and his singing fills the empty streets. Soon it attracts all the characters we have met! Symbolically with his open arms Ebenezer offers Tiny Tim his new found heart and it is gratefully received. Tiny Tim’s prayer, finally, is answered.
Ebenezer and all his new friends face the audience and, as Tiny Tim shouts “God Bless Us Everyone”, they all hold hands and sing.
The whole ensemble sing Tiny Tim’s request knowing the Good Lord smiles down at them. They all know how to keep Christmas well!
©John Hutchinson 2008