BRICK – Have you ever thought about what happens to Ebenezer Scrooge after the events in “A Christmas Carol?”
In the famous story, now nearly 200 years old, Scrooge is a cold-hearted miser who despises Christmas. He’s visited by the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come, resulting in Scrooge having a change of heart.
But what if there’s more to the story?
“The Spirit of Scrooge” is a play written by local actor and director Corey Crawford that covers one more chapter in the story of Ebenezer Scrooge.
Crawford is a member of the Guild Theaterworks, which put on “A Christmas Carol” a couple years ago. The show being their first full scale Christmas production in a long time sparked the idea of continuing the story.
“It goes back a couple years ago when we first did the traditional Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol.’ I had the idea of exploring what Scrooge’s life became after all the events of Christmas Carol,” Crawford explained.
Herbie Brandt, Windber R. Brandt, and Windber R. Brandt (same name) rehearse a scene out of costume. (Photo courtesy Corey Crawford)
In 2023, Crawford wrote the play “A New Scrooge” which took place in the year after “A Christmas Carol.” “The Spirit of Scrooge” carries on with Scrooge’s tale years later.
“The new play jumps further down the road, about 15 years later. In the original story, Scrooge is estimated to be 60 to 65 years old. And now scrooge is 80 years old in this new play,” he said. “Scrooge has become this good person and has maintained the ‘Christmas Spirit,’ but there’s still a few things that he feels unresolved in his life; he’s reliving that.”
“You have the story of ‘A Christmas Carol’ and all of a sudden, he just becomes this new person right away. But you never get to see how it was. Was it that easy? Did everyone love him right away? He was known as such a nasty person for a while, and you see what he actually had to go through and deal with,” Crawford noted.
Not only did Crawford write and direct the two plays, but he will once again be playing Scrooge. He’ll be alongside some returning cast reprising roles.
“Some of the same characters are from ‘A New Scrooge,’ a lot of the same family. Tiny Tim is now an adult,” Crawford said. “There’s a lot of flash back scenes. We see some older characters.”
“It’s a very emotional story that will tug at the heart strings, as we take a look at some of the last things in Scrooge’s life,” Crawford added.
Scrooge and Co. rehearse the new play. (Photo courtesy Corey Crawford)
The cast includes: Corey Crawford as Ebenezer Scrooge; Sean O’Scanlon as Bob Cratchit; Windber R. Brandt as Fred; Jeff Hand as Philip Pittman; Herbie Brandt as Tim Cratchit/Corwin; Jess Meszaros as Belle; Christopher Ottman as Nicholas/Young Fred; Christine Pryor as Mrs. Scrooge; Sicilia Booker as Fan; Diane Hand as Mrs. Cratchit; and Windber R. Brandt as Older Corwin.
Production staff includes Director Corey Crawford; Stage Manager Michele Vittorioso; Technical Director Ivan Hahn; and Technical Engineer Kaitlyn Glynn.
Performances are at the Anstett Cultural Arts Center, 515 Herbertsville Road, Brick. Showtimes are December 6, 7, 13, and 14 at 7 p.m. and December 8, 14, and 15 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are available for an $8 donation. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 732-552-3930.
The post “The Spirit Of Scrooge”: A New Chapter Of A Classic Story appeared first on Jersey Shore Online.
