playbill vip

STAVE I

As the snow falls on a traditional Christmas Eve morn in Victorian England, the townspeople gather at the skating pond for some Christmas revelry. In the town square, Mrs. Cratchit and her children are beckoned by Tiny Tim to enjoy the merriment of a dancing doll in a toy shop window as solicitors approach Scrooge for a charitable donation. In contrast to the holiday gaiety, Tiny Tim befriends two street beggars as they endure the hardships of the times. The work day finally ended, we find Scrooge at home. He is visited by the Ghost of Jacob Marley, his former partner, who has been dead for several years.

**FIFTEEN MINUTE INTERMISSION**

STAVE II

Scrooge is in bed asleep when he is awakened by the Spirit of Christmas Past, who shows him the fun and merriment at the home of his first employer, Mr. Fezziwig. Then the Spirit shows him his errors in past Christmases and his obsession with money, which costs him his first and finest love, Belle.

STAVE  III

Again Scrooge is awakened, this time by the Spirit of Christmas Present. His own blindness to both the joy and the misery which surround him are brought to his attention. He is shown the merriment at his nephew's party, and the poverty he helps to create by the low wages he pays his employee, Bob Cratchit. The Spirit then shows Scrooge the failing health of the Cratchit's beloved son, Tiny Tim.

STAVE IV   

Soon Scrooge discovers he is in the company of the Spirit of Christmas Future. Scrooge is shown that Tiny Tim does indeed die. He is also shown his possessions being stolen from his home by those whom he helped to keep poor. Through his ignorance and his fostering of want, he will die without compassion for his fellow man and be forced to walk the earth in suffering as does his former partner, Jacob Marley.

**FIFTEEN MINUTE INTERMISSION**

STAVE V   

A merry Scrooge arrives at the Cratchit home with gifts. He also brings his nephew and niece and their guests to join the festivities. Even the Spirits are present in his heart to joyously celebrate this new Scrooge and this new day. Traditional songs: Deck the Halls, Wassail Song, Good King Wenceslas, Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella, Good Christian Men Rejoice, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, The Twelve Days of Christmas, O Sanctissima.