"A Modern Christmas Carol"
A new children's play based on an old theme
by Ruth Ann Pattee

Show Dates:
December 7 at 7:00 p.m.; December 8 at 1:00 and 7:00 and December 9 at 1:00

About the Production and the Play

The play has been cast!!!! Over 22 speaking roles and many more in the chorus, this promises to be one of the most fun, challenging and ambituous children's shows. Show dates are December 7, 8 and 9. Times are Dec. 7 at 1 p.m.; Dec. 8 at 1 and 7 p.m. and Dec. 9 at 1 p.m.

"A (Modern) Christmas Carol" is an updated version of the classic story by Charles Dickens. Ebenezer, who likes to be called Ed, is a teenaged bully who gets his friends to do his homework for him and picks on younger kids, charging them a "hallway toll". He refuses to go caroling with his pals to raise donations to the town's food bank, mocks their Christmas spirit, and brags about the expensive holiday gifts he gets from his parents. On Christmas Eve he has a dream about his friend Kaitlin, who moved away five years ago. She tells him that he'd better straighten out or he will be magically moved to the loneliest school in the universe, with a population of one - himself! She also predicts the visits of three ghosts on the next three nights who will show him things about his life to help him. Because Ed does not care about Christmas, he will sleep right through it.

The Ghost of Christmas Past awakens Ed with a ringing alarm clock. She is a young girl dressed in her Christmas best, and takes him back to when Kaitlin was his best friend and they celebrated Christmas together because Ed's parents were working on the holiday. He remembers what it was like to have the Christmas Spirit, but comes back from his trip with the first ghost unrepentant.

The second spirit arrives - the Ghost of Christmas Present. Dressed in ripped jeans and leather, with colored spiked hair and chains, he takes Ed to Beth's house. Beth and his other friends have just returned from caroling to raise donations for the food bank. They are having a great time and Beth wishes that Ed could have joined them, but is scoffed at by the others. The spirit also shows him the house and family of Robbie, one of Ed's "hallway toll" victims. Ed sees how poor they are, yet happy with each other. He begins to understand that taking Robbie's money is hurting the whole family. Ed returns from this trip sad and beginning to see the light.

 Finally, the Ghost of Christmas Future appears. This spirit is dressed in black with a sweatshirt hood covering the face, and does not speak, which scares Ed. He travels to his current school where he sees his friends are relieved that he has moved away. Only Beth wishes that she could have helped him. Then he enters a new school. In a classroom he sees a teacher's desk, but there is only one students' desk. On the desk is a name plate - it's HIS name! He's the only student in the entire school! The rest of the story is well-known. Ed changes his ways to the benefit of all.

For information call 496-6318 or to reserve a seat, call 583-1674