A CHRISTMAS CAROL A Musical in One Act, 14 Scenes. Book by Mike Ockrent and Lynn Ahrens. Based on the novel of the same name by Charles Dickens. Music by Alan Menken. Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. Paramount Theatre, Madison Square Garden, New York: Opened 1st December, 1994; closed 1st January, 1995 ( 71 performances) STORY The musical opens at the Royal Exchange. "London Town Carol" is sung, and lamps glow. Christmas is near and all are awaiting the early close of the Exchange so the holiday can officially start. From bankers to charwomen, all wish each other "A Jolly Good Time,” looking forward to the holiday fun ahead. Mr. Smythe and his daughter, Grace, enter looking for Ebenezer Scrooge, hoping he will give them a bit more time to pay their mortgage. In a draft of cold wind, Scrooge enters with his clerk, Bob Cratchit. Mr. Smythe approaches Scrooge to ask for more time to pay--he needs money for his wife's funeral. But Scrooge denies the request, and tells little Grace, "You'll learn soon enough, child, that Christmas is a HUMBUG!" When asked for charity for the poor, Scrooge replies, “Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?" Cratchit tells him about his sickly youngest son, Tiny Tim, but Scrooge pays little mind to him and grudgingly gives him Christmas off. Scrooge believes that charity has "Nothing To Do With Me,” as he ventures home through the streets, encountering some of the denizens of the city and treating them all rudely. The funeral of Mrs. Smythe passes, giving Scrooge a chill. We travel to Cratchit's humble home, where Bob Cratchit and his son, Tiny Tim, set off to buy the makings of their meagre Christmas feast. Bob tells his son that "You Mean More To Me" than anything. Meanwhile Scrooge meets his nephew Fred, who invites him for Christmas dinner. Scrooge has never met Fred’s wife, Sally. Fred assures his uncle he wants nothing from him, but Scrooge sends him on his way. Scrooge’s harsh treatment of his fellow Londoners includes a sandwich board man, advertising a Christmas pantomime, a blind old hag, and a lamplighter (all of whom we will meet again as the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet To Be). He refuses to buy tickets to the pantomime, refuses to help the lamplighter, and refuses to give alms to the blind old hag. When he arrives at his home he has a vision--the face of his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley. Later, in his parlour, the Ghost of Marley materializes, bound in chains that he, himself, forged. Marley conjures up all the mournful ghosts of greedy former business associates, who scare Scrooge silly and try to convince him to change his ways ("Link By Link"). Marley tells Scrooge that he will be visited by three ghosts “who yet may stop you ending up like me." The clock chimes One, and Scrooge is awakened by a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Past (who looks remarkably like the Lamplighter). The ghost sings of "The Lights of Long Ago" and shows Scrooge scenes from his past: his father being taken to jail for non-payment of debts, and his separation from his mother and his beloved sister, Fan. Next we see Scrooge at twelve saving every cent he earns, working in a boot factory. The young boy writes to his sister Fan and dreams of "A Place Called Home" but Fan will die giving birth to Fred. Next, Scrooge is reminded how joyous he used to be at "Mr. Fezziwig's Annual Christmas Ball.” Here Scrooge realizes that an employer can make his workers happy. While the festivities continue, Scrooge watches his younger self, still filled with light, as he propose to his beloved Emily. Young Scrooge and Marley go into business, growing more ruthless as they become more and more successful. They turn on their former benefactor, jolly Mr. Fezziwig, and demand he repay a debt to them. Later, Emily, breaks off her engagement with Ebenezer, returning her gold engagement ring, which she feels he will value more than her. Desperate to end these painful visions, Scrooge chases the Ghost of Christmas Past away, and is left desolate and alone. The clock strikes Two, and Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Present (Sandwich board Man.)
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