AChristmasCarolReader’sTheater

*Areader’stheatermadeforthirdgradeclassroomsandabove*

AdaptedfromAChristmasCarolbyCharlesDickens

BenefitsofReader’sTheaters:-Developfluency

-Increasecomprehension-Developspeakingskillsinfrontofanaudience

-Engagestudents-Increasereadingmotivation

-Createconfidence

AChristmasCarol

Characters:Greeters:Announcer1:Announcer2:Narrator1:Narrator2:BobCratchit:Scrooge:JacobMarley:Fred:GhostofChristmasPast(Ghost1):Mrs.Fezziwig:Dancers(includingBelle&YoungScrooge):GhostofChristmasPresent(Ghost2):TinyTim:CarolineCratchit:GhostofChristmasFuture(Ghost3):Passerby1:Passerby2:Boy:GhostChorus:BehindtheScenesdoingmusicandlights:Announcer1:WelcometoaChristmasCarol.Announcer2:Performedby____________________’sclass.Announcer3:Wehavebeenworkingveryhardonourreadingandfluency.Announcer:Wenowhopeyousitback,relax,andenjoytheshow.

SCENE1:

N1:It’sChristmasEveinLondon,1843.JacobMarleyisasdeadasadoornail.

N2:Thisisnotrecentnews.Marleyhasbeendeadforyears.Butitisimportantthat

youunderstandthispoint–thatJacobMarleyisdead-ornothingwonderfulcan

comefromthisstoryweareabouttotell!

N1:AsIwassaying,itisChristmasEveinLondon.Ourstorybeginsintheofficesof

EbenezerScroogeandhislong-deadbusinesspartner,JacobMarley.

BobCratchit:Mr.Scrooge,sir,mightIaddsomecoaltothefire?

Scrooge:Absolutelynot!Coalcostsmoney.Doesn’tyourcoatkeepyouwarm?

Cratchit:Notreally,sir.

Scrooge:ThenIsuggestyougetanewone.

Cratchit:Butsir…

Scrooge:That’senough,Mr.Cratchit.Isupposeyou’llwantthedayofftomorrowtoo.

Cratchit:(hanginghishead)Yes,sir.Christmascomesbutonceayear,sir.

Scrooge:Youwantmetopayyouforadaywhenyou’renotworking?Thenyou’d

betterbehereevenearlierthenextmorning.

N2:Scrooge’snephew,Fred,arrivesinhopesofspreadingcheer.

Fred:MerryChristmas,Uncle!

Scrooge:Bah!Humbug!

Fred:ForChristmas?Humbug?Youdon’tmeanit!

Scrooge:Ido!Whatreasonhaveyoutobemerry?You’renotwealthy.

Fred:Come,dearUncle.Whatreasonhaveyoutobesogloomy-you,withallyour

riches?

Scrooge:Bah!Humbug!WhatisChristmasbutatimeforwastingmoneyonthings

youdon’tneed?IfIhadmyway,everyonewhogoesaboutsaying,“Merry

Christmas”wouldbeboiledinhisownpudding!

Fred:Uncle!

Scrooge:Nephew!Youcelebratetheholidayinyourway.Letmecelebrateitin

mine.

Fred:Butyoudon’tcelebrateit!

Scrooge:Thenletmenotcelebrateit.WhatgoodwillChristmaseverdoforyou?

Whatgoodhasiteverdone?

Fred:Manythingsdousgoodwithoutmakingusrich,Uncle.Thoughholidayshave

neverputascrapofgoldinmypocket,IbelieveIamallthebetterforhaving

celebratedthem.

Cratchit:Yes,Iagree!

Scrooge:Quiet,Mr.Cratchit,oryou’llcelebrateChristmasbylookingforanewjob!

Fred:Don’tbeangry,Uncle.HaveChristmasdinerwithustomorrow.

Scrooge:Humbug.

Fred:Butwhynot?

Scrooge:That’senough!Goodday,Nephew.

Fred:SObeit.ButIshallkeepmyChristmasspirittiltheend.MerryChristmas,

Uncle!MerryChristmas,Mr.Cratchit!

Cratchit:HappyNewYear,MasterFred.

Scrooge:That’safunnythought.Mr.Cratchitwithbarelyenoughmoneytofeedhis

family,andasickchildtoo,talkingaboutahappynewyear.Imustbegoinginsane!

SCENE2:

N1:Laterthatevening,Scroogesitsalonebyhisfireplace.

GhostChorus:Owwwwoooooooh!!!

N2:Scroogehearsadoorflyopenandtherattlingofchains.

Scrooge:What’sthatnoise?

N1:Passingthroughtheheavydoor,aghostwithdeath-coldeyesentersScrooge’s

chamber.Itsheadiswrappedinbandaids.Chainsarewoundarounditsbody.

Scrooge:Youdon’tscareme!I’mnotamantobefrightenedbymyshadows.

JacobMarley:Youdon’tbelieveinme?

Scrooge:Idonot.

N2:Theghostshrieksandshakesitschains.Scroogedropstohiskneesandcovers

isface.

Scrooge:Mercy,dreadfulspirit!Whatisityouwantwithme?

Marley:Much!Iamtheghostofyourpartner,JacobMarley.Imustdragthischain

andwanderthroughtheworldforever.Woeisme!

Scrooge:Butwhyareyouchained?

Marley:EachlinkofthischainisapunishmentforsomekinddeedIfailedtodo.Oh,

whydidInotshowkindness?

Scrooge:ButJacob,youwerealwayssuchagoodbusinessman.Youmadesomuch

money!

N1:Againtheghostwailsandshakeshischains.

Marley:Ishouldhavebeenkinder!Ebenezer,doyouknowtheweightofthechains

you’remaking?SevenChristmasEvesago,yourchainwasasheavyandlongasmine

asnow.Andyouhavebeenaddingtoitwitheachpassingyear!

Scrooge:Jacob,whatcanIdo?

Marley:Hearme,Scrooge!Youwillbehauntedbythreespirits.Listentowhateach

tellsyou!Expectthefirstwhentheclockstrikesone.

GhostChorus:OOOOOOWWWWWWWHHHHHH!!!

SCENE3:

N2:At1:00am,Scroogeawakenstoseethefirstghost,agentlespiritinalong,white

gown.

Ghost1:IamtheGhostofChristmasPast.Iwillshowyouyourlifeasitusedtobe.

Rise,andwalkwithme.

N1:TheypassmagicallyintoScrooge’spast.TheghostandScroogearesuddenly

standinginsideanoldwarehouse.

Ghost1:Doyouknowthisplace?

Scrooge:Knowit!Iheldmyfirstjobhere.Why,there’soldMrs.Fezziwig!Shewasa

goodwoman!

N2:NexttoFezziwig,Scroogeseeshimselfasacheerfulyoungman.

Fezziwig:It’sChristmasEve!Yohoeveryone!Nomoreworktonight!Clearthefloor

fordancingandfiddlingandcelebrating!

N1:Foodisbroughtin.(2studentsbringinfood)Themusicbegins(hitmusic)

EveryonestartsdancingincludingyoungScrooge.

Ghost1:Lookatthiswasteofmoney…

Scrooge:Wasteofmoney?Lookhowhappyeveryoneis!Fezziwigwasalways

makingpeoplehappy.Itwasthelittlethingsmostly-thewayshelookedatyouor

pattedyouontheback.

Ghost1:Withwhomareyoudancing?Youlooksohappy.

Scrooge:It’sBelle.Ah,youngBelle…

Ghost1:Youlovedher,butyoudidn’tmarryher.

Scrooge:Ineededtoseekmyfortunefirst.

Ghost1:Youmean,youcouldearnnomoneysimplybylovingher.Youchosewealth

insteadoflove.

Scrooge:Spirit,whydoyoutortureme?Showmenomore.Idon’twanttoseeit!

N2:Thespiritdisappears.Scroogefindshimselfbackinhisbedroomalone.

SCENE4:

N1:Theclockstrikestwo.

GhostChorus:OOOOOOOOWWWWHHHHHH!

Ghost2:IamtheGhostofChristmasPresent!Youhaveneverseenthelikesofme

before!

N2:Thesecondspiritisgigantic,andasgrandandjoyfulastheseason.Itseyesare

clearandkind,yettheyfrightenScrooge.

Scrooge:Spirit,takemewhereyouwill.Letmelearnfromyou.

Ghost2:Lookuponme!YouandIwillgoandseethingsastheyarenow.Offwithus,

then!

N1:TheghostandScroogeappearinthedoorwayofasmallhouse.Theyseeasingle

tableandasmallfireburning.

Scrooge:Wherearewe?

Ghost2:Youdon’tknowthehouseofyourownclerk,BobCrachit?Comeinside.The

familyissittingdowntoChristmasdinner.

N2:Crathit’sson,TinyTim,hobblestothetableusinganoldwoodencrutch.

TinyTim:Mother,thereneverwassuchagrandgooseasthis!

Cratchit:Thatissplendid,mydear.

Scrooge:Soexcitedoverasmallgoose!You’dthinkitwasaprizeturkey.

Ghost2:It’salltheycanafford.Theyarenotawell-offfamily.

Scrooge:True,butthey’reahappyone.Lookhowpleasetheyare–especiallythat

littleTim.

Cratchit:Atoast!ToMr.Scrooge,thefounderofourfeast!

Caroline:(angrily)Thefounderofourfeast,indeed!Iwishhewerehererightnow.

I’dgivehimapieceofmymindtofeastupon!

Cratchit:Mydear!Let’snotbebitter.

Caroline:I’lltoasthishealthbecauseit’sChristmas,butthat’sall.MerryChristmasto

theunfeeling,unkind,miserlyfounderofthisfeast,Mr.Scrooge.

All:MerryChristmas!

TinyTim:AndGodblessus,everyone!

Scrooge:Tellme,Spirit,willTinyTimlive?

Ghost2:Iseeanemptyseat.Iseeatinycrutchwithnoowner.

Scrooge:Oh,no!Sayhewillbeallright!

Ghost2:Ifthereisnochangeinhissurroundings,thechildwilldie.

GhostChorus:OOOOOWWWHHHHH!

N1:Scroogestandshorrifiedastheghostvanishes.

SCENE5:

N2:At3:00amanotherghostappears.Thethirdspiritiscloakedinablackrobe.

Nothingcanbeseenofhimexceptoneoutstretchedhand.

Scrooge:YouaretheGhostofChristmasYettoCome?

N1:Theghostdoesn’tanswer.Itpointsitslong,bonyfingerintothenight.

Scrooge:GhostoftheFuture,Ifearyoumorethantheothers.

N2:ThespirittakesScroogetoalonelycemeterythatiscoveredinweeds.Acoffinis

beingloweredintotheground.

Scrooge:Whosefuneralisthis?Whyisnooneheretomourn?Tellme,Spirit,is

thereanyoneinthistownwhocaredforthisperson.

Passerby1:Whendidhedie?

Passerby2:Lastweek.

Passerby1:Whatwasthematterwithhim?

Passerby2:ANemptyheart,Isuppose.

Passerby1:Littlegoodhismoneydidforhim.

Passerby2:Notasinglepersontomournhim!

Passerby1:Butthinkofallthemoneyhesavedwithsuchacheapfuneral!

Passerby2:Hahahahahaha!

N1:Thespiritpointstowardthegravestone.

Scrooge;BeforeIlook,Spirit,tellmeonething.Canthisfuturebechanged?

N2:Thespiritgivesnoreply.Scroogetrembles.Helooksuponthegravestoneand

readsthewords,“EbenezerScrooge.”

GhostChorus:OOOOOWWWWWHHHHHHH!

Scrooge:No,Spirit!Hearme!CanIstillerasethenameuponthisstone?Iamno

longerthepersonIhavebeen.Fromthisnighton,Iwillbeakindandgenerousman.

IwillhonorChristmaswithallmyheart!

SCENE6:

N1:WhenScroogeawakensthenextmorning,heissohappytoseedaylightthathe

laughsoutloud.Foramanwhohasbeenoutofpracticeforsolong,itisasplendid

laugh.Heopenshiswindowandcallstoaboypassingby.

Scrooge:Whatdayisittoday,myfinefellow?

Boy:Today?Why,it’sChristmasDay!

Scrooge:Ihaven’tmissedit!Thankgoodness!Doyouknowtheprizeturkeyhanging

inthebutcher’swindow?

Boy:Theonethat’sasbigasIam?

Scrooge:Yes,thatone.I’llpayyoutogobuyitandhaveitbroughttoBobCratchit’s

house.

Boy:Yes,sir!MerryChristmas,sir!

Scrooge:TheCratchitswon’tknowwhosentit!AndthenImustjoinmynephewfor

dinner.Oh,joy,Ihaven’tmissedChristmas!

SCENE7:

N2:ScroogespendstherestofthedayspreadingChristamscheer,joyfullysharing

hiswealthwithneighborsandstrangers.

N1:Thenextday,Scroogearrivesattheofficeearly.Cratchitenters,shiveringfrom

thecold.

Scrooge:Mr.Cratchit,you’re18andahalfminuteslate!

Cratchit:It’sonlyonceayear,sir.WEhadquiteacelebrationlastnight.Akind

strangersentusaprizeturkey,andwemademerrylongintothenight.Itwon’t

happenagain.

Scrooge:I’lltellyouwhat.I’mnotgoingtostandforthisanylonger.

N2:PoorCratchit.Heiscertainheisabouttobefired.

Scrooge:Andtherefore,Mr.Cratchit…I’mdoublingyoursalary!

N1:Cratchitisstunned!

Scrooge:MerryChristmas,Mr.Cratchit!AmerrierChristmasthanI’veevergiven

before.Andyoursalaryisjustastart.I’llassistyourstrugglingfamilyanywayIcan.

AndTim-whateverheneeds,he’llhaveit.Nowlet’swarmupthisplace.Putsome

morecoalonthefir,Mr.Cratchit.Beforeyoudotanotheri,let’shavemorecoal!

N2:Scroogeisevenbetterthanhisword.Hebecomesasgoodamanandasgooda

friendasthecityhaseverknown.Itissaidfromthispointforwardthatifanyman

knowshowtocelebrateChristmas,itisEbenezerScrooge.

N1:Maythesamebesaidofallofus.

(Allstudentscomeupandformalinetobow.)