Book by Flip Kobler and Cindy Marcus Music by Bill Francoeur, lyrics by Scott DeTurk with additional lyrics by Bill Francoeur

© Copyright 2014, Pioneer Drama Service, Inc.

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For preview only A FAIRY TALE CHRISTMAS CAROL—THE MUSICAL

Book by FLIP KOBLER and CINDY MARCUS Music by BILL FRANCOEUR, lyrics by SCOTT DETURK with additional lyrics by BILL FRANCOEUR CAST OF CHARACTERS (In Order of Appearance) # of lines MOTHER GOOSE ������������������� kind, cuddly narrator with a sharp 45 tongue BIG BAD WOLF ���������������������� Scrooge; mean, old, greedy 262 and just plain humbuggy PHILIP CHARMING ����������������� our Bob Cratchit; all around good 70 guy and former prince who lost his kingdom and now works for Scrooge BALE ������������������������������������ charity rep; little pig who thought 29 straw was darn good building material TWIG ������������������������������������ another charity rep; little pig 27 who built his house out of sticks BRICK ���������������������������������� another charity rep; smartest 26 of the three little pigs JACK ������������������������������������ Scrooge’s nephew; former 49 beanstalk owner and giant slayer who’s fallen on hard times, but loves his uncle CINDERELLA CHARMING �������� as Mrs. Cratchit; spunky heroine 39 who loves her husband and children GRETEL CHARMING ��������������� a Cratchit child; her brother’s 26 keeper HANSEL CHARMING �������������� a Cratchit child; has serious 23 directional issues TABITHA CHARMING �������������� reminds us of Tiny Tim; poor little 25 match girl with sunny optimism JACOB MIDAS ����������������������� Marley’s ghost; loves his bling; 25 had the golden touch as Scrooge’s business partner MERIWETHER ������������������������ the Ghost of Christmas Past; 53 she’s Cinderella’s bibbity-bobbity fairy godmother

ii PHOTOCOPYINGFor THIS preview SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL only COPYRIGHT LAWS LITTLE BO PEEP �������������������� Scrooge’s schoolmate in the past 2 HUMPTY DUMPTY ������������������ another past schoolmate 2 LITTLE WOLF ������������������������� young Scrooge; think of him 8 as a ten year old cub FAN �������������������������������������� Scrooge’s sister; kind duckling 7 who’s sensitive about her looks FEZZIWIG ������������������������������ young Scrooge’s boss; happy, 9 kind, charitable shoemaker ELF �������������������������������������� employee of Fezziwig’s; works 3 nights a lot MEDIUM WOLF ���������������������� young adult Scrooge, twenty or 19 so; a dashing young cub before he morphed into the mangy old dog GOLDILOCKS ������������������������ Medium Wolf’s true love and a 17 girl who likes things just right OLD KING COLE �������������������� the Ghost of Christmas Present; 44 a merry old soul and a merry old soul is he SNOW WHITE ������������������������ party guest; friend of Jack 7 and Mary RUMPELSTILTSKIN ���������������� another 10 MISS MUFFET ����������������������� another 9 PETER PIPER ������������������������� another 8 MARY ����������������������������������� Jack’s wife; the contrary one who 19 loves Scrooge… not! QUEEN OF HEARTS ���������������� the Ghost of Christmas Future; 26 shrill and mean; don’t cross her or it’s off with your head BLACK SHEEP ����������������������� passerby on Christmas morning; 12 recently shorn and freezing in the cold CHORUS ������������������������������� as Londoners, students, elves, n/a Cat, Little Boy Blue, other guests OPTIONAL CHOIR ������������������� of four or more Dickensian carolers who sing during the set changes NOTE: See PRODUCTION NOTES about flexible casting options.

iii For preview only SETTING TIME: Christmas Eve. PLACE: Fairytale, Dickensian London. The set is a bare stage with the exception of a stool for MOTHER GOOSE which remains in place for the entire play off to one side near the edge of the stage. To create the scenes, the CREW will bring on the few required tables, chairs, etc. as specified in the script. The CREW works in full view of the audience, so it might be fun to have them dressed as fairy tale characters, Dickens’s characters or a combination of the two. (See PRODUCTION NOTES.)

Scene breaks are designated for rehearsal purposes only. The goal is to move smoothly between scenes with continuous action. SYNOPSIS OF SCENES Scene One: Day of Christmas Eve. Scene Two: Night of Christmas Eve. Scene Three: Christmas past. Scene Four: Christmas present. Scene Five: Christmas future. Scene Six: Christmas Day.

iv For preview only SEQUENCE OF MUSICAL NUMBERS MC1 Once Upon a Time �����������������������������Ensemble

MC2 Chinny Chin Chin �������������������������������Three Pigs, Big Bad

Wolf

MC3 We’re Rich �����������������������������������������Philip, Cinderella, Hansel, Gretel, Tabitha MC3a Set Change–Greensleeves ������������������Instrumental or optional choir MC3b Jacob’s Arrival ������������������������������������Instrumental MC3c Underscore/Set Change– Good King Wenceslas �������������������������Instrumental or optional choir MC3d Set Change– Jolly Old Saint Nicholas ����������������������Instrumental or optional choir MC4 Christmas Eve Jig ������������������������������Fezziwig, Guests, Meriwether, Big Bad Wolf

MC4a Dance Music–Away in a Manger �����������Instrumental MC4b Underscore/Set Change–

Away in a Manger �������������������������������Instrumental or optional choir MC4c Set Change– Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella �����������Instrumental or

optional choir MC4d Set Change–

Here We Come A-Caroling �������������������Instrumental or optional choir

MC5 He’s a Monster ����������������������������������Jack, Mary,

Snow White,

Rumpelstiltskin, Miss Muffet, Peter Piper, Old King Cole, Big Bad Wolf

MC5a Set Change–We Three Kings ���������������Instrumental or optional choir

v For preview only MC5b Underscore– O Come, O Come, Emmanuel ��������������Instrumental or optional choir MC6 God Bless Us �������������������������������������Tabitha, Philip, Cinderella, Hansel, Gretel MC6a Set Change–

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel ��������������Instrumental or optional choir

MC6b Set Change–

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring �����������������Instrumental or optional choir

MC6c Underscore– Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring �����������������Instrumental or optional choir MC6d Underscore–Coventry Carol �����������������Instrumental or optional choir MC7 It’s Christmas Day �����������������������������Big Bad Wolf, Ensemble MC7a Underscore—Silent Night ��������������������Instrumental or optional choir

MC7b It’s Christmas Day-Reprise ������������������Ensemble

MC7c Curtain Call—

vi PHOTOCOPYINGFor THIS preview SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL only COPYRIGHT LAWS A FAIRY TALE CHRISTMAS CAROL—THE MUSICAL

Scene One 1 AT RISE: A stool sits DOWNSTAGE RIGHT or LEFT. Apart from that, the stage is bare of any set. ENTIRE ENSEMBLE, except for BIG BAD

WOLF, stands in a tight group DOWN CENTER. MUSIC CUE 1: “Once Upon a Time.”

5 ENSEMBLE: (Sings.) A Fairy Tale Christmas Carol. A story that we all know. A new cast of faces takes us places Told of so long ago. A Fairy Tale Christmas Carol. 10 A story in song and rhyme Where spirits converse Of one’s greedy purse Once upon a time. MOTHER GOOSE: (Steps forward. Speaks to the AUDIENCE.) Goooood

15 evening, me lovelies! I am Mother Goose. And I am here to tell you a tale, a wonderful, glorious tale of Christmastime. Now, you may have heard the story before, but I promise you, you’ve never

heard it like this. For this is a fairy tale. Are you ready? Once upon

a time…

20 BIG BAD WOLF: (ENTERS. He is in fact a big bad wolf, but dressed like Dickens’s Scrooge. Speaks.) Humbug!

MOTHER GOOSE: (Speaks.) Excuse me. BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) Once upon a time? Is that all you’ve got? MOTHER GOOSE: (Speaks.) That’s how the story begins. 25 BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) That’s how every story begins. You haven’t got something better? MOTHER GOOSE: (Speaks.) My, what a foul temper you have! BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) The better to do business with.

MOTHER GOOSE: (Speaks.) And my, what a small heart you have! 30 BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) The better to make money with. MOTHER GOOSE: (Speaks.) And my, what bad breath you have! BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) The better to… Oh, that was the baba ghanoush I had for lunch. And it was overpriced! ENSEMBLE/MOTHER GOOSE: (Sing. BIG BAD WOLF frowns and scoffs 35 as they sing.) A Fairy Tale Christmas Carol Through the eyes of Mother Goose With Tiny Tim a bit more grim And the Big Bad Wolf’s abuse!

1 For preview only 1 A Fairy Tale Christmas Carol. The ominous bells still chime. They’ll ring back the past And bring, at last, 5 Chances forever lost And all the pain they cost Once upon a time. (ENSEMBLE EXITS.) MOTHER GOOSE: (Speaks to the AUDIENCE.) As you can see, Ebenezer Scrooge is nothing but a big bad wolf. This is his story. 10 BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) Humbug! I don’t want you telling my story. (To the AUDIENCE.) No story. Go home. (Looks at his pocket watch. To MOTHER GOOSE.) Ah, now you’ve made me late. Don’t tell my story. (CREW brings on two tables with stools, ledgers and quills to set up Scrooge’s office. BIG BAD WOLF sits at one of the tables. 15 MUSIC OUT.)

MOTHER GOOSE: (To the AUDIENCE.) Now, Scrooge’s business partner Midas was dead at the beginning of our tale. Dead as a doornail. That point must be made very, very clear or else nothing that follows will be wondrous. (Sits on the stool, where she will remain

20 for the entire show.) PHILIP: (ENTERS and sits at the other table and scribbles furiously with a quill.) Good afternoon, Mr. Scrooge. BIG BAD WOLF: Humbug, Bob!

PHILIP: Excuse me sir, but my name is Philip, sir. As you well know

25 BIG BAD WOLF: My first accountant’s name was Bob, Bob. I don’t have time to learn every new kid’s name. PHILIP: I’ve worked for you for twelve years. BIG BAD WOLF: If you want to keep your job, Bob, you’ll be Bob. So what is it…? 30 PHILIP: (Sigh.) Bob. It’s very cold in here. The ink is freezing in the wells. BIG BAD WOLF: Feels warm to me. PHILIP: You’re a wolf, you’re covered in fur. Can I throw more coal on the fire?

35 BIG BAD WOLF: You know where it’s warm? The unemployment office.

PHILIP: (Sigh.) Yes, sir. BIG BAD WOLF: Is that all, Bob? (The THREE LITTLE PIGS poke their heads ON from OFFSTAGE. PHILIP notices them.) PHILIP: No, sir. There are some people here to see you. (BIG BAD 40 WOLF grunts. PHILIP takes that for a yes. To PIGS.) He’ll see you now. (The PIGS APPEAR in full, but remain outside Scrooge’s office

2 For preview only 1 area. They are a little nervous around BIG BAD WOLF, who works on his books while he talks, a very busy man. PHILIP also works diligently through the following exchange, not daring to look up.) BALE: (To TWIG.) You go first. 5 TWIG: I’m not going in. Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin. BRICK: What does that even mean? TWIG: It’s an expression. BALE: It’s stupid. TWIG: Oh, did I build a house out of straw? 10 BALE: Don’t start. BIG BAD WOLF: I am a busy man. State your business or get out. BRICK: (Steps forward into Scrooge’s office, hat in hand.) Good morning, Mr. Scrooge. BIG BAD WOLF: How did you know I wasn’t Mr. Midas? His name is

15 still on the door. (MUSIC CUE 2: “Chinny Chin Chin.”)

TWIG: (To the OTHER PIGS. Speaks.) He doesn’t recognize us. (BALE and TWIG cross to BRICK. BALE carries a donation bucket with the words “Order of Victoria” on it.)

BRICK: (Speaks.) I told you he wouldn’t.

20 BALE: (Speaks.) How can he not recognize us?

TWIG: (Speaks.) After what he did?

BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) And what did I do? BALE: (Speaks.) You blew my house down. BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) I did? 25 BALE: (Speaks.) Yes! You destroyed my life. (BIG BAD WOLF ignores BALE, which just infuriates the little pig. Sings.) You blew away my lovely home, As cozy as a cottage could be. Now I’m sleeping in the barn, 30 Stinky livestock snoring at me! BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) Ah, yes. Now, I remember. It was an insurance nightmare. House made of straw, could’ve gone up in flames. I did the city of London a favor. TWIG: (Speaks.) My house wasn’t an insurance risk. 35 BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) I beg to differ. TWIG: (Sings.) You think that you can bully people, Snap a finger, toss ’em away. I won’t give up. I won’t give in. 40 Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin!

3 For preview only 1 BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) What? TWIG: (Speaks.) It’s an expression. BRICK: (Speaks.) We don’t get it either. BIG BAD WOLF: (To TWIG. Speaks.) Ah, yes. Made of sticks, wasn’t it? 5 TWIG: (Speaks.) Yes. BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) You were behind on your mortgage. TWIG: (Speaks.) So you just blew down my house? BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) Pay your bills, slacker. (To BRICK.) And what about you? Did I blow down your house, too? 10 BRICK: (Speaks.) No. My house was made of bricks like all houses should be. BALE: (Speaks.) Oh, not again. TWIG: (Speaks.) Don’t start. Seriously. BRICK: (Speaks.) He can’t blow down bricks. 15 BALE: (Speaks.) Mom said to stop rubbing it in. He got your house, too. BRICK: (Sings.) I woke up to a big bulldozer Crashing to an inch of my bed. Don’t know how you sleep at night, 20 All that meanness up in your head! BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) Ah, yes. Brick house. It was in the way of a new shopping development. I wanted to put up a pumpkin shell. BRICK: (Speaks.) Well, because of your new shopping development, all of us are now homeless.

25 BIG BAD WOLF: (Laughs. Speaks drolly.) Deal with it!

BALE/TWIG/BRICK: (Sing.) You haven’t seen the last of us. You’ve bitten off more than you can chew! Won’t give up. We won’t give in. 30 TWIG: (Sings.) Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin! BALE/BRICK: (Sing.) Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin! BIG BAD WOLF: (Sings.) Your whining’s rubbed my patience thin! Your squealing’s gotten under my skin! BALE/TWIG/BRICK: (Sing.) We won’t give up! 35 We won’t give in! TWIG: (Sings.) Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin!

BALE/BRICK: (Sing.) Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin!

BALE/TWIG/BRICK: (Sing.) Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin! (MUSIC OUT.) 40 BALE: But that’s not why we’re here.

4 PHOTOCOPYINGFor THIS preview SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL only COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 TWIG: We are from the Order of Victoria charity foundation. BALE: And we’d like to speak to you about a donation. BIG BAD WOLF: Donation?

BRICK: At this festive season of the year, many of us feel moved to 5 take care of the needy.

BALE: And homeless!

TWIG: Especially the homeless! BRICK: What can we put you down for? BIG BAD WOLF: Nothing.

10 TWIG: You wish to remain anonymous? BIG BAD WOLF: I wish to be left alone. I do not make merry myself at Christmas, nor can I afford to make some useless slackers merry.

BALE: But sir, it’s Christmas. A little charity?

BIG BAD WOLF: Are there no orphanages for the children? No old 15 shoes? TWIG: Yes, sir. But the old woman there already has so many children she doesn’t know what to do. BIG BAD WOLF: Are there no chain gangs? Railroads where the inmates can work all the live long day? 20 BRICK: Plenty, sir. BIG BAD WOLF: Then, the poor and homeless should go there.

BALE: Many would rather die.

BIG BAD WOLF: Then they’d better get on with it and decrease the surplus population! 25 TWIG: But— BALE: But— BIG BAD WOLF: Get out or I’ll huff and I’ll puff, and I’ll scream and I’ll shout! (The PIGS squeal in terror and start for the door. They run into JACK as he ENTERS.) 30 JACK: Ah, good day to you, gentlepigs. BALE: Good day, sir. JACK: (Notices the charity bucket.) The Order of Victoria. Well, here is my holiday donation. (Hands over some coins.) A very merry Christmas to you all! 35 BALE: Bless you, sir! TWIG: Merry Christmas, sir! BRICK: Good day. (The PIGS EXIT. JACK tips his hat to PHILIP, still scribbling away at his table.)

JACK: Good morning, Philip.

5 For preview only 1 PHILIP: (Looks up briefly.) Good morning, Mr. Jack. JACK: Uncle! (Walks over to BIG BAD WOLF’S desk.) Merry Christmas! BIG BAD WOLF: Humbug. JACK: Christmas a humbug, Uncle? You don’t mean that.

5 BIG BAD WOLF: What right have you to be merry? You’re poor enough.

JACK: What right have you to be miserable? You’re rich enough. BIG BAD WOLF: Of course you wouldn’t understand. You have no head for business, Jack. JACK: Now, Uncle. 10 BIG BAD WOLF: You traded your cow. That’s nearly a quarter ton of prime cut steaks for three lousy beans. JACK: They were magic.

BIG BAD WOLF: Yes. A beanstalk which you climbed and got a goose

that laid golden eggs. 15 JACK: Which wasn’t easy. BIG BAD WOLF: But then you chopped down the beanstalk. JACK: I had to. BIG BAD WOLF: You could’ve turned it into a tourist attraction, sold tickets, made a fortune! But you chopped it down. 20 JACK: I saved the village from a giant. BIG BAD WOLF: And then what? You let the goose that laid golden eggs roam free. JACK: Mary was very adamant about free range poultry. BIG BAD WOLF: But you lost the goose. Now, you have nothing. 25 JACK: Money isn’t everything. BIG BAD WOLF: Liar! That is a lie. JACK: Money hasn’t made you merry. BIG BAD WOLF: Humbug. If it were up to me, every idiot that went around with “Merry Christmas” on his lips would be baked in a pie. 30 JACK: Oh, Uncle. BIG BAD WOLF: You keep Christmas your way. Let me keep it mine. JACK: But you don’t keep it. BIG BAD WOLF: Let me leave it alone then. JACK: Christmas is a wondrous, generous, loving time of year. And 35 while it’s never put a scrap of food on my table or a coin in my pocket, I believe it’s done me good and will continue to do so. So I say “God bless it,” and I shall keep the spirit all year. PHILIP: Here-here.

6 For preview only 1 BIG BAD WOLF: And how do you plan to keep Christmas on the unemployment line, Bob? JACK: Uncle, please. Come have Christmas dinner with Mary and me. BIG BAD WOLF: What are you having? 5 JACK: Beans. (BIG BAD WOLF snarls.) Mary canned enough beans to last a lifetime. BIG BAD WOLF: Why did you ever marry that Mary girl? She can be so contrary! JACK: No, she’s a real lamb. I fell in love. 10 BIG BAD WOLF: Love? Humbug. Love is the only thing worse than a merry Christmas. JACK: It’s no use, Uncle. I shall keep my Christmas spirit to the end. We’ll save you some beans. Merry Christmas, Philip! PHILIP: Merry Christmas, Mr. Jack! 15 JACK: My best to your lovely wife and family. PHILIP: Bless you, sir. JACK: Good bye, Uncle. (EXITS. BIG BAD WOLF snarls and returns to his work. PHILIP stands and crosses meekly to BIG BAD WOLF.) PHILIP: Excuse me, Mr. Scrooge. 20 BIG BAD WOLF: Now what? PHILIP: It’s closing time. sir. BIG BAD WOLF: So it is. I’ll see you in the morning. PHILIP: Tomorrow is Christmas, sir. (BIG BAD WOLF stares at PHILIP.) And I was hoping to have the day off, sir. 25 BIG BAD WOLF: You want the entire day? PHILIP: It’s only one day a year, sir. BIG BAD WOLF: Poor excuse for picking a man’s pocket every December the 25th. Fine. Take the day, but be here all the earlier the next day. 30 PHILIP: Thank you, sir. Bless you, sir. (Runs OFF.)

BIG BAD WOLF: I’m too soft. That’s what it is. (Stands and crosses the

stage as the CREW strikes Scrooge’s office.)

MOTHER GOOSE: (To the AUDIENCE.) And so Bob Cratchit— PHILIP: (Steps ON.) My name is Philip. (He’s OFF again.) 35 MOTHER GOOSE: Philip stepped outside into the brisk London air… (PHILIP and EXTRAS ENTER and cross to and fro, creating the look of a busy London street. After the scene is established, CINDERELLA ENTERS.) …where he met his wife. CINDERELLA: Philip!

7 For preview only 1 PHILIP: Cindy! (CINDERELLA runs into his arms, and he spins her around.) CINDERELLA: Good evening, Mr. Charming. PHILIP: Good evening, Mrs. Charming. 5 CINDERELLA: And how was your day? PHILIP: My day was wondrous, and— (Notices her hands.) Look at your hands! They’re covered in blisters. CINDERELLA: I had to sweep the stairs in Rapunzel’s tower today. That girl sheds like a Labrador! 10 PHILIP: I hate that you have to work. CINDERELLA: It’s okay. I’m used to it. I did it for my stepmother and stepsisters before I met you, remember?

PHILIP: Yes. But this isn’t the life I promised you. CINDERELLA: Don’t torture yourself. 15 PHILIP: I should never have— CINDERELLA: Philip. It’s Christmas Eve. Let’s count our blessings. PHILIP: (Looks around.) So far I count zero. Where are they? CINDERELLA: (Calls OFF.) Hansel! Gretel! HANSEL: (Rushes ON with GRETEL.) Here we are, Mother. 20 GRETEL: Wrong Way Hans here got lost again. HANSEL: Oh, like every street in London doesn’t look the same. GRETEL: I told him to drop bread crumbs. HANSEL: I got hungry.

PHILIP: And where is your sister?

25 HANSEL: I’ll go find her.

GRETEL: No. You’ll never make it back.

TABITHA: (Hobbles IN on two crutches. She is, of course, our Tiny Tim character, although she’s an awful lot like a Little Match Girl.) Here I am, Daddy. 30 PHILIP: There she is. (MUSIC CUE 3: “We’re Rich!” Runs to her and picks her up. Speaks.) Who’s my little match girl? TABITHA: (Speaks.) I am. PHILIP: (Speaks.) And did we sell any matches today? TABITHA: (Speaks.) I sold every one we had.

35 PHILIP: (Speaks.) Every one?

TABITHA: (Speaks.) Every one. (Hands over a few coins.) PHILIP: (Speaks.) We are indeed, rich! (Sings.) When I was a boy, we rarely saw a single farthing, Barely had a place one could even call a bed.

8 PHOTOCOPYINGFor THIS preview SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL only COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 But now that I have you, life is so much more rewarding. We’ve a wealth of love and no truer words are said. Yes, now we’re rich! Rich! Nary a single worry. 5 No problem we can’t solve with a kiss.

ALL: (Sing.) We’re rich! Rich!

Jolly as royalty. I’ve got you and you’ve got me, A family in total bliss. 10 CINDERELLA: (Sings.) When I was a girl, I never owned a single bonnet, Just a faded bow and one tattered, shabby dress. But now I’m truly blessed, on my lap with you upon it, Holding in my arms all that is true happiness.

15 Yes, now we’re rich! PHILIP: (Sings.) Rich! CINDERELLA: (Sings.) Truly fulfilled and thankful. PHILIP/CINDERELLA: (Sing.) No treasures can compare to our worth. 20 ALL: (Pretending to be royalty, sing.) We’re rich! Rich! Rulers of all we see. We shall grant with regal glee Sweet harmony upon the Earth. We’re rich! Rich! 25 Never deprived or wanting. Our hearts can fill the emptiest pot.

We’re rich! Rich!

Though it may look extreme,

From the outside it may seem 30 A wild dream is all we’ve got. We are rich with love And when you’re rich with love, You’ve got a lot! (MUSIC OUT.) CINDERELLA: Maybe we have just enough for plum pudding after all. 35 KIDS: Yay! CINDERELLA: Who’s ready to go home and make a Christmas feast? KIDS: I am. PHILIP: (Puts TABITHA up on his shoulders.) Shall we make it a race? GRETEL: On your mark.

40 HANSEL: Get set.

9 For preview only 1 TABITHA: Go! (The happy FAMILY races OFF, laughing. HANSEL, of course, runs OFF in the opposite direction of everyone else.) GRETEL: (From OFF.) Hansel! (HANSEL RE-ENTERS and runs OFF again in the direction of his family. BIG BAD WOLF ENTERS, stomping 5 through the streets.) MOTHER GOOSE: And while the Cratchits went home— PHILIP: (Steps ON.) It’s Charming. Our name is Charming. (He’s OFF again.) MOTHER GOOSE: Right. Sorry. (To the AUDIENCE.) —Ebenezer Scrooge 10 walked through the streets of London. BIG BAD WOLF: What did I tell you about narrating? MOTHER GOOSE: I’m telling them the story. BIG BAD WOLF: My personal story. This is copyright infringement. MOTHER GOOSE: It’s public domain. 15 BIG BAD WOLF: We’ll see about that. MOTHER GOOSE: Scrooge went home to his lonely, cold house. (EXTRAS EXIT.) End of Scene One

Scene Two MUSIC CUE 3a: “Set Change—Greensleeves.” During the following set change, an OPTIONAL CHOIR of DICKENSIAN CAROLERS can 20 ENTER and sing oohs and aahs. (See PRODUCTION NOTES.) The

CREW brings on a bed made up with sheets and a blanket, a chair and a small night table to create Scrooge’s bedroom. A nightshirt lies on the chair; a bowl, spoon and candle are on the nightstand. BIG BAD WOLF sits on the bed and eats from the bowl. MUSIC FADES 25 OUT. CHOIR EXITS. (NOTE: For this and all scene change music, at the director’s discretion, the MUSIC can FADE OUT as soon as the set

change is complete or play to the end of the song.)

MOTHER GOOSE: He sat in a corner, eating his curds and whey. When

along came a spider and sat down beside—

30 BIG BAD WOLF: (Stomps his foot, squashing that spider flat. He looks at the bottom of his shoe.) You don’t pay rent. You can’t stay. MOTHER GOOSE: The night was cold and dark. But darkness was cheap, and Scrooge liked it. BIG BAD WOLF: (To MOTHER GOOSE.) Biographies are supposed to 35 be flattering. MOTHER GOOSE: It’s unauthorized. BIG BAD WOLF: You’ll be hearing from my lawyer.

10 For preview only 1 MOTHER GOOSE: (Ignores him.) The wind howled. (SOUND EFFECT: HOWLING WIND.) The old house creaked. (SOUND EFFECT: CREAKY BOARDS.) And for some reason, Scrooge was very, very afraid. BIG BAD WOLF: (Scared.) I’m not afraid.

5 MOTHER GOOSE: Candles flickered.(LIGHTS FLICKER.) Bells rang for the dead. (SOUND EFFECT: RINGING BELLS.) A draft blew as cold as the grave. (SOUND EFFECT: HOWLING WIND.) And then Scrooge had a visitor. (MUSIC CUE 3b: “Jacob Midas Arrival.”)

JACOB MIDAS: (ENTERS. He’s covered in bling. Gold chains everywhere.

10 And some very real chains, too. Everything about him is gold and

spooky. MUSIC OUT.) Boom, baby!

BIG BAD WOLF: Ahhhh! JACOB MIDAS: Oh, snap! I am back, baby. Who da’ man? BIG BAD WOLF: How did you get in here? 15 JACOB MIDAS: Came in through the wall. (Looks at the room.) Oh, snap, dawg. What a dump! BIG BAD WOLF: Who are you?

JACOB MIDAS: In life, I was your partner, Jacob Midas.

BIG BAD WOLF: Jacob Midas?

20 JACOB MIDAS: In the flesh baby.

BIG BAD WOLF: Really? JACOB MIDAS: Nah, dawg. I’m dead. Baa-zing! BIG BAD WOLF: Yeah. Right. JACOB MIDAS: You don’t believe me. 25 BIG BAD WOLF: No. You died seven years ago this very night. You can’t be here. JACOB MIDAS: You don’t believe your own eyes. Why? BIG BAD WOLF: Because anything can affect them. I could’ve eaten something rotten. You could be a crumb of cheese or some nasty 30 French fries. There’s more gravy than grave about you. JACOB MIDAS: Dude, seriously. Don’t do comedy. Oh, and by the way, ahhhhhh! (Screams, ghostly and scary.) BIG BAD WOLF: (Cowers.) All right. Okay. I believe. I believe in you. Why do you wear those chains? 35 JACOB MIDAS: Oh, dawg, chicks dig a little bling. (Catches himself.) Oh, you mean these chains. I wear the chains I forged in life. I made them link by link and yard by yard.

BIG BAD WOLF: You made them? Did you take a class or something? JACOB MIDAS: Every cruel deed forged a new link. Every missed 40 chance to help my fellow man added another pound of cold iron.

11 For preview only 1 You are making one just like it. Yours was as heavy and long as this seven years ago. And, dawg, you been adding a little sumthin’ to it every day. BIG BAD WOLF: No, I’m not very crafty. I tried scrapbooking once 5 and— JACOB MIDAS: Every time you do something nasty, you add another link.

BIG BAD WOLF: Oh, like it’s my fault. They call me Big Bad Wolf. I have a brand to uphold.

10 JACOB MIDAS: Ahhhhhh!

BIG BAD WOLF: Oh, Jacob, relax. You’re freaking me out. Say something nice. JACOB MIDAS: I got nothin’, bro. Truth is hard. When I was alive, all I cared about was the bling. 15 BIG BAD WOLF: You did have the golden touch. JACOB MIDAS: I know. Everything I touched… Boom! Gold. Blazing gold. And what good did it do me? BIG BAD WOLF: You were a good man of business. JACOB MIDAS: Business?! Mankind should’ve been my business. 20 Charity. Tolerance. BIG BAD WOLF: What do you want?

JACOB MIDAS: I came to warn you Your fate is worse than mine if you don’t change your ways.

BIG BAD WOLF: I don’t understand.

25 JACOB MIDAS: You need compassion, love and kindness. BIG BAD WOLF: Yeah. Right. But you know, they’re not really me. JACOB MIDAS: That is why you need help. You’re gonna be visited by three spirits. BIG BAD WOLF: Pass. 30 JACOB MIDAS: Expect the first tonight when the clock strikes one. BIG BAD WOLF: Hey, just spit-balling here. What if they all came at once and got it over with? JACOB MIDAS: The second will show up when the clock strikes two. The third— 35 BIG BAD WOLF: —when the clock strikes three. I get it. JACOB MIDAS: No, dawg. Don’t mess with the third. She’s wicked cruel. She’ll show up when she feels like it.

BIG BAD WOLF: I don’t think I want this.

JACOB MIDAS: I am doin’ you a favor, dawg. Don’t screw this up.

40 BIG BAD WOLF: Will I see you again?

12 PHOTOCOPYINGFor THIS preview SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL only COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 JACOB MIDAS: Not in this life. Make it a good one. Oh, and Ebenezer? BIG BAD WOLF: Yes, Jacob? JACOB MIDAS: Boom, baby! (Claps. BLACKOUT. LIGHTS UP. JACOB MIDAS is gone, and the room is just like it was.) 5 BIG BAD WOLF: (Looks around. Sees nothing.) Hah. Ghosts. Humbug. (Takes off his jacket and puts on the nightshirt. Blows out the candle.) MOTHER GOOSE: And so Ebenezer Scrooge blew out his candle to save the wax. BIG BAD WOLF: Stop telling my story.

10 MOTHER GOOSE: And got into bed. BIG BAD WOLF: This is my private room. You can’t be telling what happens in here. (Climbs into bed.) MOTHER GOOSE: He pulled the sheets over his head. BIG BAD WOLF: You’re fired! (Pulls the sheets over his head.) 15 MOTHER GOOSE: I don’t work for you. BIG BAD WOLF: Dang. MOTHER GOOSE: Convinced that Jacob Midas was just a figment of his imagination, Scrooge fell into a cold and dreamless sleep. Until… End of Scene Two

Scene Three

SOUND EFFECT: CLOCK CHIMES ONE. 20 BIG BAD WOLF: (Throws the sheets back and looks around.) One o’clock. And all’s well. Hah! Ghosts. Spirits. Humbug! (There’s a CRASH OFFSTAGE and IN comes MERIWETHER. She’s the perfect picture of a fairy godmother right down to the flowing gown and

star-tipped wand. She also has an overloaded clipboard. She’s just 25 a little frazzled.)

MERIWETHER: Oh, higgelty piggelty! Am I late?

BIG BAD WOLF: Ahhh!

MERIWETHER: Oh, goodness no. Let’s see, let’s see… (Flips through

page after page on the clipboard.) …where am I tonight? Ah. 30 Ebenezer Scrooge? BIG BAD WOLF: Yes.

MERIWETHER: Well, hurrah. I’m in the right place.

BIG BAD WOLF: Are you the spirit whose coming was foretold to me? MERIWETHER: You’re expecting me? Well, giggle-lee-bip! That makes 35 things so much simpler. I don’t have to go through all the tedious

explanations and fine print. Let’s see, according to this purchase

order here you are a big bad wolf.

13 For preview only 1 BIG BAD WOLF: (Climbs out of bed.) Yes. MERIWETHER: My, what big hands you have! BIG BAD WOLF: The better to make money with. MERIWETHER: And what big eyes you have! 5 BIG BAD WOLF: The better to see money-making opportunities with. MERIWETHER: And what big teeth you have! BIG BAD WOLF: The better to… I… I just like money, okay? MERIWETHER: Oh, you don’t look like a bad wolf to me. Who’s a good boy? Who is? (Scratches his head and his foot starts to thump the 10 floor.) BIG BAD WOLF: Stop that. MERIWETHER: Oh, just a little rabid. I should make a note of that. (Looks at the clipboard.) Oh, says so right here. I didn’t have time to read the report. 15 BIG BAD WOLF: And who are you? MERIWETHER: I am Meriwether. BIG BAD WOLF: You’re a fairy godmother? MERIWETHER: Yes. Sometimes. BIG BAD WOLF: Sometimes? 20 MERIWETHER: The agency only sends me out a few times a month nowadays. BIG BAD WOLF: What? MERIWETHER: Well, snickerdots! It’s not like it’s a long term gig, is it? I mean, you wait around 16 years for one night, and, zingo-zango, 25 you change a pumpkin into a coach, transform some mice, zip-zap a beautiful gown and some glass slippers! Then, the girl goes off, meets a prince and they get married. One night’s work. It’s all

hurry up and wait. This job helps pay the bills.

BIG BAD WOLF: And what is this job?

30 MERIWETHER: I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.

BIG BAD WOLF: Long past?

MERIWETHER: Oh, fizzlepop! No dear. Your past.

BIG BAD WOLF: And what does that mean?

MERIWETHER: Well, that means I am going to show you the shadows 35 of Christmases long, long ago. (Holds out her hand. MUSIC CUE 3c:

“Underscore/Set Change–Good King Wenceslas.”) Take my hand.

BIG BAD WOLF: But, Spirit, I am mortal and cannot fly.

MERIWETHER: Bramblespots! I don’t do that anymore. At my age? I get quite the draft up my bloomers. No, walk with me. (BIG BAD

14 For preview only 1 WOLF takes MERIWETHER’S hand, and they walk across stage while the CREW strikes the Scrooge’s bedroom behind them.) BIG BAD WOLF: (Strains to see through an invisible fog.) Where are we going? I can’t see anything. 5 MERIWETHER: Back in time. Back to your younger days. (The CREW brings on a few chairs and a rolling blackboard. This is Scrooge’s classroom in the past. LITTLE BO PEEP, HUMPTY DUMPTY and

EXTRA STUDENTS run ON, packing items in bags in preparation for holiday travel. LITTLE WOLF ENTERS quietly with a book and sits in 10 a chair near the blackboard.) OPTIONAL CHOIR: (During the set change and entrances above, ENTERS and sings.) Good King Wenceslas looked out On the feast of Stephen. When the snow lay ’round about,

15 Deep and crisp and even.

Brightly shone the moon that night, Though the frost was cruel. When a poor man came in sight, Gathering winter fuel. (As soon as the set change and entrances 20 are complete, the MUSIC FADES OUT and the CHOIR EXITS. If more time is needed, CHOIR continues singing “La, la, la” to the tune.) MERIWETHER: Can you see it now? BIG BAD WOLF: Yes. Yes. Where are we? MERIWETHER: Your childhood. 25 BIG BAD WOLF: Yes. I went to school here. I remember these children. That’s Bo Peep. I had such a crush on her, but I felt sheepish about it. And Humpty Dumpty. That guy was off the wall! Hey, guys. Guys! (STUDENTS ignore him.) MERIWETHER: Oh, widdle waddle! These are but the shadows of 30 things past. They cannot see or hear you. BIG BAD WOLF: That’s okay. Peep ignored me back then anyway. MERIWETHER: And do you recognize this one? (Points to LITTLE WOLF, who’s sitting in a chair by the blackboard doing homework.) BIG BAD WOLF: Oh, wow. That’s me. That’s me! 35 MERIWETHER: Yes. LITTLE BO PEEP: Hey, everyone! Hurry up! HUMPTY DUMPTY: It’s time to go! LITTLE BO PEEP: Come on, Ebenezer! The last train is leaving. HUMPTY DUMPTY: Forget him. He never goes home for Christmas. 40 LITTLE BO PEEP and HUMPTY DUMPTY run OFF with their bags.)

15 For preview only 1 LITTLE WOLF: (Calls after them.) Oh, who cares about stupid ol’ Christmas anyway? (Goes back to homework.) BIG BAD WOLF: It was better this way. I used Christmas as a chance to study math, economics, to get more work done. It was a time of 5 solitude, a chance to be… alone. MERIWETHER: (Beat.) Oh, gadsmegook! We are behind schedule. We have a one fifteen. Let’s look at another Christmas in this place.

BIG BAD WOLF: Why? They were all the same. Nothing ever changed.

MERIWETHER: You changed. (LITTLE WOLF moves to another seat.

10 FAN ENTERS. She’s a cute little duck, complete with webbed feet

and a bill. She also carries a lady’s hand-fan and uses it to cover

her face.)

FAN: Ebenezer. Ebenezer!

LITTLE WOLF: Fan! 15 BIG BAD WOLF: Whoa. That’s my sister, Fan. (FAN runs to LITTLE WOLF and they hug.) MERIWETHER: That’s your sister? BIG BAD WOLF: Yes. MERIWETHER: She’s a duck, and you’re a wolf. 20 BIG BAD WOLF: Yes.

MERIWETHER: Dangamuffin, that can’t be right! BIG BAD WOLF: Why not? MERIWETHER: You’re different species. She can’t be your sister. It’s biologically impossible! 25 BIG BAD WOLF: I’m a wolf that walks upright, speaks English and wears clothes, and my sister being a duck is impossible? (Turns back to the classroom scene.) LITTLE WOLF: Fan, what are you doing here? FAN: I’ve come to bring you home, Ebenezer. 30 LITTLE WOLF: Home? FAN: Yes. Father is so much kinder than he used to be. BIG BAD WOLF: If you think I’m big and bad, you should’ve seen my father. LITTLE WOLF: The man is an animal. 35 FAN: Aren’t we all? But he spoke to me so kindly the other night that I asked if you might come home. And he said yes.

LITTLE WOLF: Oh, Fan. (Hugs her. She pulls away.)

FAN: Don’t look at me. (Covers her face with the fan.)

LITTLE WOLF: Fan. You’re beautiful.

40 FAN: Don’t tease, Ebenezer. I know what I am. 16 PHOTOCOPYINGFor THIS preview SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL only COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 MERIWETHER: What is she? (Looks through pages on the clipboard.) I can’t find the back-story. BIG BAD WOLF: She’s… not comfortable with her looks. MERIWETHER: You mean she’s ugly? 5 BIG BAD WOLF: No.

LITTLE WOLF: No. You are not ugly, Fan.

FAN: It’s all right. I know I am an ugly duckling. MERIWETHER: Fiddlefaddle! She’s not ugly. BIG BAD WOLF: I know that. You know that. 10 MERIWETHER: But she doesn’t. BIG BAD WOLF: Children can be very cruel. MERIWETHER: Yes. They often believe what others tell them. Even if it’s not true. BIG BAD WOLF: But she grew into a beautiful swan.

15 MERIWETHER: (Checks her notes.) And had a son.

BIG BAD WOLF: Jack. My nephew.

MERIWETHER: (Reads the notes.) Ooooh! Quite the hero. Saved a village from a giant. He’s your only family now. BIG BAD WOLF: Yes. 20 MERIWETHER: Oh, look at the time. We are on a tight schedule here. Let’s move on to another Christmas. (MUSIC CUE 3d: “Set Change–Jolly Old Saint Nicholas.” Takes BIG BAD WOLF’S hand and leads him across the stage as the CREW strikes the chairs and blackboard, replacing them with a podium and two worktables to

25 create Fezziwig’s shoe shop. FEZZIWIG ENTERS and stands behind the podium. ELF and several EXTRA ELVES ENTER and bustle about, carrying and stacking shoeboxes.) OPTIONAL CHOIR: (During the set change and entrances above, ENTERS and sings.) Jolly old Saint Nicholas, 30 Lean your ear this way! Don’t you tell a single soul What I’m going to say. Christmas Eve is coming soon. Now, you dear old man, 35 Whisper what you’ll bring to me. Tell me if you can! (As soon as the set change and entrances are complete, the MUSIC FADES OUT and the CHOIR EXITS. If more time is needed, CHOIR continues singing “La, la, la” to the tune.) MERIWHETHER: Well, bibbity bop! Do you recognize this place? 40 BIG BAD WOLF: No way! That’s Old Fezziwig. I was an apprentice here.

17 For preview only 1 MERIWETHER: Your first job? BIG BAD WOLF: I worked in the accounting department. I was the accounting department. He was a shoemaker. All day long, not much got done, but every morning there would be a whole new 5 batch of shoes. It was amazing!

FEZZIWIG: All right, everybody. That’s enough work for today. It’s

Christmas Eve, after all! Clear the floor. It’s time to party! (MUSIC

CUE 4: “Christmas Eve Jig.” CAT ENTERS playing a fiddle. LITTLE BOY BLUE ENTERS and blows his horn. EXTRAS ENTER as GUESTS, 10 dancing and laughing. Speaks to the GUESTS.) Remember, everyone, the right shoes for the right occasion! I hope you brought your ghillies and your jig shoes! (Sings.) It’s Christmas Eve! Let’s dance a jig! Come one, come all, now don’t be late! 15 Join in with ol’ Fezziwig. All raise a cup and celebrate!

Time to toast this festive season, Sip the nog and down the ale. No one needs a better reason.

20 Dance and wassail!

FEZZIWIG/GUESTS: (Sing.) It’s Christmas Eve anticipation. Nothing like the way it feels. (MEDIUM WOLF ENTERS and approaches FEZZIWIG. He’s not the mean old codger he’ll become, but he is intent on work.)

25 Dance with total jubilation! Tap your toes and click your heels.

MEDIUM WOLF: (Speaks.) Mr. Fezziwig.

BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) Look at me. My my, I was a good-looking cub.

FEZZIWIG: (Speaks.) What is it, Ebenezer? 30 MEDIUM WOLF: (Speaks.) I’ve been going over the books. FEZZIWIG: (Speaks.) Not tonight, Ebenezer. MEDIUM WOLF: (Speaks.) Do you know how much this party is costing the firm? MERIWETHER: (Speaks.) Even then? 35 BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) I was a good worker. FEZZIWIG: (Speaks.) Not to worry. MEDIUM WOLF: (Speaks.) But, sir… FEZZIWIG: (Speaks.) It’s Christmas, Ebenezer, a time for charity and generosity. Stop working for once and have some fun.

40 FEZZIWIG/GUESTS: (Sing.) It’s Christmas Eve! Now count your blessings. It’s no time to fret and doubt.

18 For preview only 1 Time for Christmas joy expressing. Sing your blessed voices out! Step it lightly as a feather, Whoop and holler, stomp and cheer. 5 Heat the floor up with your leather. It’s that time of year!

It’s Christmas Eve!

Let’s raise the rafters With our songs of pure delight.

10 Dancing, music, joy and laughter, Singing on this holy night! MEDIUM WOLF: (Speaks.) But, sir, I don’t really know how to have a good time. FEZZIWIG: (Speaks.) Mother Goose! Get over here and dance with 15 this young wolf. MOTHER GOOSE: (Speaks.) Right you are, Johnny. Come here, Lobo! (Drags MEDIUM WOLF onto the floor.) BIG BAD WOLF: (To MOTHER GOOSE as she passes.) What are you doing here?

20 MOTHER GOOSE: (Speaks.) This is a flashback. We can’t see you.

BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) Is this how you know my story? MOTHER GOOSE: (Speaks.) Can’t hear you… (She and MEDIUM WOLF dance. Everyone dances a silly, wild and fun jig. Even BIG BAD WOLF claps his hands and taps his toes.) 25 FEZZIWIG/GUESTS: (Sing.) It’s Christmas Eve! Let’s dance a jig. Come one, come all, it’s not too late! Join in with ol’ Fezziwig. All raise a cup and celebrate! 30 Step it lightly as a feather, Whoop and holler, stomp and cheer.

Heat the floor up with your leather. Christmas comes but once a year. Christmas comes but once a year. 35 Christmas Day is almost here! MERIWETHER: (Speaks.) Jigglepuff! You seem to be having a good time. BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) What? (Catches himself. MUSIC OUT.) No, I wasn’t. ELF: To Mr. Fezziwig. The greatest boss in the world! Hip hip— 40 GUESTS: Hooray!

ELF: Hip hip—

19 For preview only 1 GUESTS: Hooray! ELF: Hip hip— GUESTS: Hooray! Merry Christmas! MERIWETHER: Oh, balderpucky! He only spent a little money on this 5 shindig. Hardly seems worth all the hoorays. BIG BAD WOLF: It’s not the money. It’s the joy he brings to his workers. It doesn’t cost much to make people hap— (Catches himself again.) MERIWETHER: What is it?

10 BIG BAD WOLF: Nothing.

MERIWETHER: Something. BIG BAD WOLF: No. I just… I was just thinking about Bob Cratchit and something I said today. MEDIUM WOLF: Excuse me, Mother Goose. I’m not much of a dancer. 15 (Bows to MOTHER GOOSE, who returns to her stool, and turns to leave the dance floor when he bumps into GOLDILOCKS, who’s ENTERING. Do you believe in love at first sight?)Excuse me. I didn’t see— GOLDILOCKS: You are excused, sir. (Curtsies. MEDIUM WOLF bows. They smile.) 20 FEZZIWIG: (Joins them.) Well, hello, my dear. I didn’t expect to see you here tonight. GOLDILOCKS: I went to the Skimpole party and that was too boring. And the Pumblechook party was too rowdy. This one seem just right. FEZZIWIG: Ah, Ebenezer. I’d like you to meet Goldilocks. I’ve known 25 her since she was a size three extra narrow. GOLDILOCKS: Oh, go on, Mr. Fezziwig! FEZZIWIG: I have a new pair of boots for you, my dear. Wait here while I get them. (EXITS.) GOLDILOCKS: He loves his shoes. 30 MEDIUM WOLF: As far as I can tell, he loves everything. GOLDILOCKS: (Looks him in the eyes.) As far as I can tell, there’s a lot around here to love.

MERIWETHER: Gagglepus. Is that girl hitting on you?

BIG BAD WOLF: No. No, she was just… being friendly. 35 MERIWETHER: Uh-huh. I had a friend like that once. Next thing I knew— MOTHER GOOSE: (Crosses in front of them.) Whoa. Stop. Enough. This is a family story. Rated PG.

MERIWETHER: Oh. Widdletinks. Sorry. (MOTHER GOOSE returns to her stool.)

20 PHOTOCOPYINGFor THIS preview SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL only COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 GOLDILOCKS: (Circles MEDIUM WOLF, looking him up and down.) You’re not too tall. You’re not too short. In fact, you seem just right. (MUSIC CUE 4a: “Dance Music–Away in a Manger.” OPTIONAL CHOIR sings oohs and aahs.)

5 MEDIUM WOLF: Would you care to dance?

GOLDILOCKS: I’d be delighted. (MEDIUM WOLF leads her to the dance

floor. GOLDILOCKS puts her head on his shoulder as they waltz. It’s

very sweet, innocent and romantic.) Yes, this is just right.

MERIWETHER: (Looks at BIG BAD WOLF.) Why, Ebenezer! What a big

10 smile you have! BIG BAD WOLF: What? Oh, I… uh… MERIWETHER: All the better to remember with, eh? Well, I think we shall take that off your face. It’s time to move on.

BIG BAD WOLF: No. Not yet. This is my favorite part.

15 MERIWETHER: Sorry, but I am on the clock here. (Takes BIG BAD WOLF’S hand and leads him away. ELVES, GUESTS, GOLDILOCKS and MEDIUM WOLF EXIT. The CREW strikes Fezziwig’s shoe shop, replacing it with a single park bench. GOLDILOCKS ENTERS and sits on the bench, nervously fiddling with an engagement ring on 20 her finger.) We have another Christmas to see. Years later. (MUSIC OUT.) It looks like Goldilocks is wearing an engagement ring. Do you remember this night? BIG BAD WOLF: I don’t want to. MERIWETHER: Well, that’s not the same thing, is it? 25 MEDIUM WOLF: (ENTERS.) Hello, Goldie. Sorry I’m late. GOLDILOCKS: Again, Ebenezer? MEDIUM WOLF: Couldn’t be helped. It was— GOLDILOCKS/MEDIUM WOLF: —business. MEDIUM WOLF: Business. Yes. 30 GOLDILOCKS: It’s always business. MEDIUM WOLF: I have to make my fortune, Goldie. GOLDILOCKS: How much will be enough? It’s always too little. You say there’s never too much. When will it be just right? MEDIUM WOLF: It’s complicated, Goldie.

35 GOLDILOCKS: Yes. Do you love me, Ebenezer?

MEDIUM WOLF: What kind of question is that? GOLDILOCKS: A good one. Do you love me, or just my name? MEDIUM WOLF: You’re being silly, Goldie. GOLDILOCKS: Am I? Would you love me if I were named Penny? Or 40 Nickle-ette? Or is it just gold that you love?

21 For preview only 1 MEDIUM WOLF: You’ve got to be kidding. There’s nothing the world is harder on than poverty, and yet nothing it hates so much as the pursuit of wealth. GOLDILOCKS: That’s all you pursue now. 5 MEDIUM WOLF: I’m trying to build a future for us. GOLDILOCKS: While our past slips away. We couldn’t marry that first Christmas, Ebenezer. That would have been too soon. But two years ago would have been just right. And now I’m afraid that it’s too late.

10 MEDIUM WOLF: Goldie, don’t do this.

GOLDILOCKS: (Takes off the ring and hands it back to him.) Then stop

me. (MUSIC CUE 4b: “Underscore/Set Change–Away in a Manger.” Turns and EXITS. MEDIUM WOLF starts to follow, then stops himself.) BIG BAD WOLF: (Steps up to him.) Go after her! Stop her, you fool! 15 MERIWETHER: You cannot change the past. BIG BAD WOLF: Why have you done this to me? MERIWETHER: Me? I think you did this to yourself. These are the shadows of what’s already happened. Do they make you unhappy? BIG BAD WOLF: Yes. 20 MERIWETHER: What doesn’t? BIG BAD WOLF: That’s not fair.

MERIWETHER: Few things are. Well, my time is up. I have a

quinceanera in San Pablo at four. Come. (Holds out her hand and BIG BAD WOLF takes it. They walk across stage as MEDIUM WOLF 25 EXITS. OPTIONAL CHOIR ENTERS and sings oohs and aahs as the CREW removes the bench and replaces it with Scrooge’s bedroom set. BIG BAD WOLF climbs into bed as MERIWETHER EXITS. MUSIC FADES OUT and CHOIR EXITS.) End of Scene Three Scene Four MOTHER GOOSE: So Scrooge went back to his bedroom. 30 BIG BAD WOLF: Stop talking. MOTHER GOOSE: And soon found himself back in bed.

BIG BAD WOLF: I’m thinking of filing a cease and desist order against

you. (Pulls the sheets over his head.)

MOTHER GOOSE: (Whispers to the AUDIENCE.) Where he went back to 35 that cold and dreamless sleep. BIG BAD WOLF: I can hear you. MOTHER GOOSE: Go to sleep! Soon enough, the clock began to strike again. (SOUND EFFECT: CLOCK CHIMES TWO.)

22 For preview only 1 OLD KING COLE: (ENTERS. He’s a jolly old soul who laughs at everything.) Ha-ha-ha-ha! Come and know me better, man. BIG BAD WOLF: And who are you? OLD KING COLE: I am Old King Cole. Ha-ha-ha! 5 BIG BAD WOLF: You’re a merry old soul. OLD KING COLE: Ha-ha! And a merry old soul am I! Come and know me better, man. BIG BAD WOLF: You are a spirit?

OLD KING COLE: I am. I am. Ha-ha-ha-ha!

10 BIG BAD WOLF: You’re easily amused.

OLD KING COLE: You are not.

BIG BAD WOLF: I don’t see anything funny. OLD KING COLE: Look around. Life is funny. BIG BAD WOLF: Life is hard. 15 OLD KING COLE: And mysterious. BIG BAD WOLF: It’s work. OLD KING COLE: And play. Ha-ha-ha! BIG BAD WOLF: It’s dark. OLD KING COLE: And brief. (No laughing here.) So terribly, 20 uncompromisingly brief. (A beat, then he shakes it off.) Which is why we must enjoy the moment, eh? Ha-ha-ha! And the moment is

Christmas, the greatest moment of all, because it’s now! Ha-ha-

ha-ha-ha!

BIG BAD WOLF: And you are? 25 OLD KING COLE: The Ghost of Christmas Present. BIG BAD WOLF: Christmas present. But I didn’t get you anything. OLD KING COLE: Ha-ha-ha-ha! That’s a good one. Christmas present! BIG BAD WOLF: And you are here to show me? OLD KING COLE: The world as it is, Scrooge. The wondrous, glorious 30 world as it is. Take my robe. BIG BAD WOLF: Won’t you catch cold? OLD KING COLE: Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! That’s a good one. Touch my robe, and let’s get out into the world. (MUSIC CUE 4c: “Bring a Torch,

Jeanette Isabella.” BIG BAD WOLF touches his robe, and they

35 walk across stage. OPTIONAL CHOIR ENTERS and sings oohs and aahs while the CREW strikes the bedroom set. EXTRAS ENTER as LONDONERS passing through the busy London streets, tipping their hats to each other. Children play. People laugh. The THREE PIGS ENTER taking donations in their bucket. Once the scene is set, 40 MUSIC FADES OUT. CHOIR EXITS.)

23 For preview only 1 TWIG: Happy holidays! BRICK: Merry Christmas, sir. BALE: A joyous season!

BRICK: Donations for the poor?

5 TWIG: And homeless?

BALE: Especially the homeless. (A few LONDONERS drop coins in the

collection bucket.) Bless you! Merry Christmas.

BIG BAD WOLF: Why is everyone so happy?

OLD KING COLE: It’s Christmas. Can’t you feel it? 10 BIG BAD WOLF: I can feel the cold and hope for springtime. OLD KING COLE: It’s not about a day on the calendar. It’s about the spirit.

BIG BAD WOLF: I don’t get it.

OLD KING COLE: It’s not a joke. Or if it is, it’s on you. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.

15 BIG BAD WOLF: That’s not funny. OLD KING COLE: Everything is funny if you have the spirit. (PHILIP ENTERS on one side of the stage as TABITHA ENTERS on the other side. She only has one crutch now.) TABITHA: Daddy! 20 PHILIP: There’s my little match girl. (TABITHA hobbles toward him as best she can. PHILIP rushes to her.) What are you doing out here? Where’s your other crutch? TABITHA: I chopped it up. PHILIP: What? 25 TABITHA: I chopped it into splinters to make more matches. PHILIP: Oh, Tabitha. TABITHA: I only need one crutch, Daddy. And if I could sell more matches, maybe you could get your kingdom back. PHILIP: Oh, Tabby. 30 TABITHA: You’re a prince, Daddy, and a prince deserves a kingdom. PHILIP: I got more than I deserved when you came along. (TABITHA giggles, but her giggles soon turn into coughs.) Is that cough getting worse?

TABITHA: I think it’s getting better.

35 PHILIP: Yes, well let’s get you home in front of the fire.(TABITHA jumps on PHILIP’S back.) TABITHA: Giddyup, horsey. PHILIP: Neeeeeeeighhhh! TABITHA: Ha-ha! Merry Christmas, pigs! Merry Christmas! (PHILIP 40 rushes OFF with TABITHA. BIG BAD WOLF tries to follow.)

24 PHOTOCOPYINGFor THIS preview SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL only COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 OLD KING COLE: (Stops him.) Not that way. Ha-ha-ha! BIG BAD WOLF: I want to see where they’re going. OLD KING COLE: You will. Patience. There’s something else to see first. Come. (MUSIC CUE 4d: “Set Change–Here We Come a-Caroling.” He 5 leads them across stage while the EXTRAS EXIT. The CREW brings on a few chairs to set up Jack and Mary’s house. SNOW WHITE, RUMPELSTILTSKIN, MISS MUFFET and PETER PIPER ENTER. They are GUESTS at a party being thrown by JACK and MARY, who also ENTER.)

10 OPTIONAL CHOIR: (During the set change and entrances above,

ENTERS and sings.) Here we come a-caroling Among the leaves so green. Here we come a-wand’ring So fair to be seen. 15 Love and joy come to you And to you glad Christmas, too. And God bless you and send you A happy new year. And God send you a happy new year! (EXITS. MUSIC FADES OUT.) 20 BIG BAD WOLF: Where are we? OLD KING COLE: You don’t recognize this place? BIG BAD WOLF: I’ve never been here. OLD KING COLE: But you’ve been invited every year. Ha-ha-ha! It’s your nephew Jack’s house. 25 SNOW WHITE: Oh, Mary, that was a delicious meal. MARY: Oh, I’m not so sure. RUMPELSTILTSKIN: And the bean casserole was amazing! MISS MUFFET: And the three bean salad was to die for! Way better than curds and whey!

30 PETER PIPER: And the pinto pie was particularly pleasant. MARY: Really? I thought it was a little grainy. JACK: You are an enchantress with beans, my love.

PETER PIPER: And the air is pungent with a pleasing perfume.

SNOW WHITE: So we’ve had our feast. We’ve sung our carols. What

35 shall we do now? RUMPELSTILTSKIN: A game. MARY: Oh, yes. Can we have a game?

PETER PIPER: Oh, pretty please!

JACK: A game? 40 MISS MUFFET: Yes.

25 For preview only 1 MARY: No. JACK: Which means yes, doesn’t it my love? MARY: Yes. JACK: All right. How about charades? (OTHERS squeal in delight and

5 clap their hands.)

RUMPELSTILTSKIN: Ooh! A guessing game! My favorite!

JACK: See if you can guess what I am. (Mimes a terrorizing monster with fangs and claws. MUSIC CUE 5: “He’s a Monster.”)

MARY: (Speaks.) You’re a beast?

10 RUMPELSTILTSKIN: (Speaks.) A bear! SNOW WHITE: (Speaks.) A dwarf? RUMPELSTILTSKIN: (Speaks.) What? SNOW WHITE: (Speaks.) Sorry. That’s always my first guess. PETER PIPER: (Speaks.) A velociraptor? 15 MISS MUFFET: (Speaks.) A spider? RUMPELSTILTSKIN: (Speaks.) No! Spiders don’t have fangs like that. MISS MUFFET: (Speaks.) Oh, yes, they do!

MARY: (Speaks.) No, they don’t.

GUESTS: (Sing. Except JACK.) Cursing underneath his breath 20 And scaring children half to death, Spitting fire at beggars in his way with open palm. He’ll steal a blind man’s last red cent, Then throw him out without his rent, Sleeping like a baby 25 Without guilt or qualm. MARY: (Speaks.) It’s a troll, isn’t it? MISS MUFFET: (Speaks.) A dragon? PETER PIPER: (Speaks.) Grendel? BIG BAD WOLF: (Caught up in the game, speaks.) A monster?

30 RUMPELSTILTSKIN: (Speaks.) A monster?

JACK: (Speaks.) Ding-ding. RUMPELSTILTSKIN: (Speaks.) A monster! OLD KING COLE: (Speaks to BIG BAD WOLF.) He can’t hear you. MISS MUFFET: (Speaks.) But what kind of monster? (JACK mimes a 35 ferocious snarl.) GUESTS: (Sing. Except JACK.) He’s a monster, Cruel and bitter. Evil critter. Better run and hide.

40 MARY: (Speaks.) It’s not a mean monster, is it? 26 For preview only 1 JACK: (Speaks.) Ding-ding. RUMPELSTILTSKIN: (Speaks.) A cruel monster? JACK: (Speaks.) Ding-ding. BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) An evil monster?

5 PETER PIPER: (Speaks.) A wicked monster?

JACK: (Speaks.) Ding-ding. (Walks with a stupid expression, eyes rolled

and tongue out.)

SNOW WHITE: (Speaks.) And foolish? JACK: (Speaks.) Ding-ding. 10 OLD KING COLE: (Speaks.) It’s obvious. BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) No. No, my nephew is no fool. He wouldn’t make it easy. (The following stanzas are sung as a duet by the GUESTS.)

PART ONE: (Sings.) This one wouldn’t care a smidge 15 To foreclose on the orphanage. With his beady little eyes, He’s greedy as a squirrel.

With cheeks all packed with nuts and stuff, He never seems to get enough. 20 Try to pinch him for a bob, His lips will curl.

PART TWO: (Sings.) He’s a monster. Never happy. Gruff and snappy. 25 He’s a nasty churl!

PETER PIPER: (Speaks.) This is a tough one.

BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) See? So it’s a mean, cruel, wicked and foolish monster. Hmmm. MISS MUFFET: (Speaks.) Let’s see… a monster that’s mean, cruel, 30 wicked and foolish. MARY: (Speaks.) Oh, I’ve got it! (Claps her hands together, thrilled that she’s figured it out.) It’s your Uncle Scrooge. JACK: (Speaks.) Yes! (GUESTS crack up, laughing and clapping. BIG BAD WOLF looks like he’s just been slapped. The following stanzas 35 are sung simultaneously as a duet by the GUESTS.) PART ONE: (Sings.) Stepping on the little guy, He makes the widowed mothers cry, Laughing while he snatches up their Final crust of bread.

40 He’ll throw them out into the cold No matter if they’re weak or old.

27 For preview only 1 Visions of his piles of gold Dance in his head! Now you’ve guessed his name But that is just the start. 5 Ask yourself, how does he live Without a heart?!

PART TWO: (Sings.) He’s a monster, Always mumbling, Cross and grumbling, 10 Filling all with dread. This is just the start. Monster with no heart! (MUSIC OUT.) OLD KING COLE: (Laughs and slaps his knees, until he sees BIG BAD WOLF’S expression.) Oh, come on, man. It was just a joke. (The BIG 15 BAD WOLF skulks, looking very unhappy. OLD KING COLE reassures him.) Well, it’s not like he doesn’t love you.

MISS MUFFET: Is your uncle really as bad as that?

MARY: Worse.

JACK: Mary. 20 MARY: Tell me it’s not true. JACK: Well… I cannot tell a lie. RUMPELSTILTSKIN: Spoken like a true hero. JACK: But of all the people he hurts, who is harmed the most? SNOW WHITE: Little Red?

25 PETER PIPER: Grannies?

MISS MUFFET: The three pigs? JACK: Himself. (GUESTS scoff.) No, think of it. He has all that money, and yet what does he buy himself? MARY: Nothing. 30 JACK: And he knows practically everyone in town. And yet he spends all his time alone. MARY: Well, you invite him to come every year. JACK: Yes. MARY: But he never does.

35 JACK: Exactly. SNOW WHITE: So why do you keep asking? JACK: Because he is my uncle, and my mother—God rest her soul— loved him so. OLD KING COLE: (To the BIG BAD WOLF.) She did, you know.

28 PHOTOCOPYINGFor THIS preview SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL only COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 JACK: She told me that he was the only one who could see the beautiful swan she would become. BIG BAD WOLF: I never saw the duckling. OLD KING COLE: Your nephew looks like her.

5 BIG BAD WOLF: Humbug. He’s no swan. OLD KING COLE: No. More of an eagle. Strong and proud.

JACK: And I feel sorry for the old skinflint.

OLD KING COLE: Huh? Sorry? For you.

JACK: And I will continue to invite him. Every year. Maybe he’ll change.

10 (Beat. Then, GUESTS crack up again. JACK joins them.) Maybe not.

Who wants some coffee? I’ve freshly ground beans. (GUESTS ad

lib how much they’d like that.)

OLD KING COLE: Come, man. My time is short, and we have much to see. (MUSIC CUE 5a: “Set Change–We Three Kings.” BIG BAD 15 WOLF touches OLD KING COLE’S robe, and they cross the stage as the CREW strikes Jack’s house. They bring on a table with a meager feast and a few chairs, the Charming home. CINDERELLA, HANSEL and GRETEL ENTER and busy themselves in the house.) OPTIONAL CHOIR: (During the set change and entrances above, 20 ENTERS and sings.) We three kings of Orient are Bearing gifts we traverse afar. Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star. O, star of wonder, star of night, 25 Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light! (EXITS. MUSIC FADES OUT.) BIG BAD WOLF: Where are we? OLD KING COLE: Philip’s home. 30 BIG BAD WOLF: Who? OLD KING COLE: Your employee. BIG BAD WOLF: Bob Cratchit? OLD KING COLE: Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! BIG BAD WOLF: Kind of small.

35 OLD KING COLE: It’s all he can afford. CINDERELLA: Gretel, set the table please.

GRETEL: Yes, Momma.

CINDERELLA: Hansel, are your father and sister home yet?

HANSEL: Maybe they got lost.

40 GRETEL: Not everybody gets lost.

29 For preview only 1 HANSEL: Maybe they found a gingerbread house and are bringing home a real Christmas feast. (GRETEL whacks him.) GRETEL: Shhh. HANSEL: I’m sorry, Momma. I’m sure your feast will be wonderful. 5 CINDERELLA: Well, it will be made with love anyway. PHILIP: (ENTERS with TABITHA.) Merry Christmas, Charmings!

GRETEL: Merry Christmas, Daddy!

HANSEL: Merry Christmas, Father! BIG BAD WOLF: Who are the Charmings? 10 OLD KING COLE: They are. BIG BAD WOLF: Eh. They’ve got a little charisma… maybe. OLD KING COLE: Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

BIG BAD WOLF: What? What’s so funny?

PHILIP: Are we all ready for supper?

15 CINDERELLA: Almost. PHILIP: Hansel, Gretel, come help your sister. (HANSEL and GRETEL do, taking the crutch and leading TABITHA to a chair.) CINDERELLA: Where is her other crutch? PHILIP: She chopped it up to make more matches to sell. 20 CINDERELLA: Oh, Philip! The crutch costs five times as much as she could make from matches. PHILIP: She wants to help. You know what she said to me today? She said she hoped people would see her because she’s crippled. Since it’s Christmas, she thought it might be pleasant for them to 25 be reminded of who it was that made lame beggars walk and blind men see. (TABITHA coughs.) CINDERELLA: Her cough is getting worse. PHILIP: Yes. CINDERELLA: Well, supper is almost ready. 30 HANSEL: Can we have a story while we wait? TABITHA: Oh, yes! GRETEL: A story! Tell us a story. KIDS: Story. Story. Story. PHILIP: A story, eh? What story do you want to hear? 35 GRETEL: You know the one. TABITHA: The one where you and Mommy met. PHILIP: Oh, no…

CINDERELLA: You’ve all heard this story a million times.

30 For preview only 1 GRETEL: But it’s so romantic! How you two met at the ball and fell in love. TABITHA: But Mommy had to run out before the stroke of midnight— GRETEL: And left behind a glass slipper. 5 CINDERELLA: See. You know it by heart. GRETEL: And how Daddy rode through the entire kingdom, trying to find the girl that fit the slipper. HANSEL: And how your stepsisters cut up their own feet to fit into the slippers. 10 GRETEL/TABITHA: Eww! HANSEL: Hey, I’m a guy. That’s the good part. GRETEL: And then you two were married. PHILIP: It is a good story. (Hugs CINDERELLA.) CINDERELLA: Well, then tell the rest of it. 15 PHILIP: No, let’s leave it there. CINDERELLA: (To PHILIP.) No, tell the part about your father, the king, and how he managed his kingdom. HANSEL: How did he manage his kingdom? CINDERELLA: Poorly. He hired Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge to oversee the 20 royal treasury. KIDS: Boooo! OLD KING COLE: Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! PHILIP: Now, children, that’s not polite. CINDERELLA: And Mr. Scrooge sold off the entire kingdom piece by 25 piece until we were left with nothing. HANSEL: You mean I’m supposed to be a prince?

TABITHA: And I’m a princess?

CINDERELLA: Yes.

PHILIP: Well, not anymore.

30 GRETEL: That’s not the way the story’s supposed to go.

CINDERELLA: No. This was supposed to be our happily ever after.

PHILIP: (Hugs her again.) And it is for me. I get to spend my life

with you in this Charming house with our Charming children. (Rubs noses with CINDERELLA.)

35 KIDS: Ewww!

PHILIP: And Mr. Scrooge did give me a job after all.

CINDERELLA: He probably just felt guilty.

PHILIP: And so I’d like to propose a toast. To Ebenezer Scrooge, the founder of our feast.

31 For preview only 1 CINDERELLA: The founder of our feast? Are you joking? I am not drinking a toast to him. There are plenty of things I’d like to do to that old skinflint. Toasting isn’t one of them. Unless it’s over a fire, that is. 5 BIG BAD WOLF: Hey!. OLD KING COLE: Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! PHILIP: Sweetheart. CINDERELLA: Don’t sweetheart me, Philip. After all that he’s done, I’d like to put him in a pair of hot iron shoes and make him dance 10 until his feet fall off. TABITHA: Like Show White’s queen. GRETEL: Or have the Pied Piper lead him off a cliff. HANSEL: Or shove him in an oven. GRETEL: Or toss him in a well. 15 HANSEL: Or impale him on thorns. BIG BAD WOLF: Are you kidding me? Where do they get such awful ideas? OLD KING COLE: It’s hard to believe those are all from fairy tales. CINDERELLA: Those are all too good for Mr. Scrooge. 20 PHILIP: Cindy. It’s Christmas.

CINDERELLA: (Softens.) Oh, all right. I’ll toast Scrooge. But not for him and not because it’s Christmas. I’ll do it for you, my love, who always sees the best in everyone. My Prince Charming. To Mr. Scrooge. 25 GRETEL: To Mr. Scrooge.

HANSEL: To Mr. Scrooge.

TABITHA: To Mr. Scrooge. (Coughs. MUSIC CUE 5b: “Underscore–O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” OPTIONAL CHOIR ENTERS and sings

oohs and aahs under the following dialogue.)

30 BIG BAD WOLF: What’s wrong with the girl?

OLD KING COLE: She’s sick.

BIG BAD WOLF: Is she going to be okay? OLD KING COLE: (Closes his eyes and concentrates.) I see a single crutch in the corner, ownerless and revered. And a huge pile of

35 matches with no one to sell them. If the course of these shadows do not change, the child will die. BIG BAD WOLF: That’s not right.

OLD KING COLE: Why not? If she’s going to die, she’d better hurry up

and do it and decrease the surplus population.

32 PHOTOCOPYINGFor THIS preview SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL only COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 BIG BAD WOLF: (Stung by that. Beat.) You can’t use my own words against me. OLD KING COLE: It’s public domain. BIG BAD WOLF: I just said them yesterday. That’s plagiarism. 5 OLD KING COLE: It’s under the “fair use” clause. TABITHA: Achoo. Achoo! BIG BAD WOLF: Bless you. (OLD KING COLE smiles.) What? It doesn’t cost me anything to bless her. (MUSIC FADES OUT. CHOIR EXITS.)

CINDERELLA: (Speaks.) Bless you.

10 TABITHA: (Speaks.) Thank you. (MUSIC CUE 6: “God Bless Us.”) (Speaks.) God bless us. Everyone. (Sings.) God bless us, everyone. Every life is worth living. God bless us, everyone, 15 On this hallowed Christmas Eve. We’ve all something worth giving And hearts to receive, And we’ll all share this blessing The more we believe. 20 Love is the key. Love’s what connects you and me. Love is abundant and free. Give it away.

And it will come back ten-fold.

25 It will bring youth to the old. It will bring warmth from the cold This Christmas Day! CINDERELLA: (Sings.) God bless us, everyone, Even those who have hurt us. 30 TABITHA/HANSEL/GRETEL: (Sing.) God bless us, everyone. We must all live and let live. PHILIP: (Sings.) And the way to convert us Is to learn to forgive. CHARMINGS: (Sing.) And the more I wish this blessing, 35 The more I’m positive… Love is the key. Love’s what connects you and me. Love is abundant and free. Give it away.

40 You may be mighty or meek.

You may be strong, may be weak,

33 For preview only 1 But love’s the gift we all seek. Along the way. Love is the gift we all seek. This Christmas Day. (BIG BAD WOLF squats down and looks TABITHA 5 in the eyes. Then, OLD KING COLE rests a hand on his shoulder.)

OLD KING COLE: (Speaks.) Come, man, I am only here for the moment. And now the moment is gone. Come. (Holds out his robe and BIG BAD WOLF touches it. They start to walk across the stage as the CHARMINGS EXIT and the CREW strikes the Charming house and

10 sets up Scrooge’s bedroom again. BIG BAD WOLF walks to it as OLD

KING COLE EXITS. MUSIC OUT.)

End of Scene Four

Scene Five MOTHER GOOSE: And so the Ghost of Christmas Present returned the old skinflint to his bed chamber.(Looks to the BIG BAD WOLF, wondering why he’s not stopping her.) I said, “the old skinflint” went 15 back to bed. (No reaction.) The mean, jerky old wolf went back to his stinky dumb old bedroom. (No reactions.) Hey. Hey! Wolf!

BIG BAD WOLF: Sorry. I was thinking… about… something.

MOTHER GOOSE: (Surprised.) Well, Scrooge fell back into his cold

dreamless sleep, but it was fitful and unpleasant. Until… (SOUND 20 EFFECT: CLOCK CHIMES THREE.) BIG BAD WOLF: (Steps out of bed and kneels, ready to meet whatever’s coming.) I am ready, Spirit. Ready for whatever you have to show me. Spirit? Spirit? QUEEN OF HEARTS: (From OFF.) Off with his head! 25 BIG BAD WOLF: What? QUEEN OF HEARTS: (From OFF.) Off with his head! Off with his head! (ENTERS. She is dark and nasty and carries a scythe.) BIG BAD WOLF: (Jumps to his feet.) What? You can’t cut off my head. QUEEN OF HEARTS: I can’t? I can’t! Who are you to tell me what I 30 can’t do? BIG BAD WOLF: Well, I haven’t done anything wrong. QUEEN OF HEARTS: Haven’t done anything wrong? Have you been listening to your own story? I could cut your head off right now, and people would throw a parade with marching bands and floats. 35 BIG BAD WOLF: Are you the Ghost of Christmases Yet to Come?

QUEEN OF HEARTS: And big Snoopy balloons! Whoosh. (Swings the scythe.) BIG BAD WOLF: Oh, Spirit. I fear you more than any of the others I have met so far.

34 For preview only 1 QUEEN OF HEARTS: Good. BIG BAD WOLF: I am ready to follow you and learn with an open heart. Tell me what to do. QUEEN OF HEARTS: Kneel.

5 BIG BAD WOLF: (Kneels, then quickly leaps to his feet again.) You’re going to cut off my head. QUEEN OF HEARTS: (Snaps her fingers. Shucks.) Fine then. Follow me. (MUSIC CUE 6a: “Set Change–O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” They walk across the stage. OPTIONAL CHOIR ENTERS and sings oohs 10 and aahs as the CREW strikes the bedroom set. The THREE PIGS ENTER, carrying a bucket of jewelry and the blanket and sheets from Scrooge’s bed. MUSIC FADES OUT. CHOIR EXITS.) BALE: Well, that’s the first stroke of luck we’ve had in a long time. TWIG: I’ll say. 15 BRICK: When do you think he died? BALE: Sometime last night. TWIG: What do you think happened? QUEEN OF HEARTS: He didn’t lose his head, I hope. I wasn’t there for that. 20 BALE: They say he just huffed and he puffed and he kicked the bucket. BRICK: (Looks at the bucket.) It’s got a dent in it, but we should still be able to sell it for something.

TWIG: I hear Jack and Jill need a new bucket.

BRICK: What else have we got? 25 TWIG: I got his sheets. BRICK: Let me see. TWIG: Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin!

BALE: You keep using that phrase. I do not think it means what you

think it means.

30 BRICK: I got his blanket.

BALE: It’s still warm.

BRICK: Probably the only warmth he ever had in his whole life. BALE: You took it right off of him? BRICK: He wasn’t going to need it anymore, was he? 35 TWIG: Not by the hair of his— BALE: Seriously. Stop. I got his pocket watch. TWIG: If we pool all this stuff and sell it, we might have enough money to rent a flat. BALE: Think of it. A place of our own.

35 For preview only 1 BRICK: Some place safe, made of bricks. BALE: Oh, don’t start. BRICK: We’ll save on heating. TWIG: I’m telling Mom. (The THREE PIGS EXIT.)

5 QUEEN OF HEARTS: Greedy little pigs. Off with their heads!

BIG BAD WOLF: I think I understand the lesson here.

QUEEN OF HEARTS: Yes. Don’t annoy me. BIG BAD WOLF: No. You’re trying to tell me the fate of that poor man could be my own. Aren’t you? 10 QUEEN OF HEARTS: Don’t ask questions, or I’ll take off your head. BIG BAD WOLF: You’ve got a real obsession about that. QUEEN OF HEARTS: (Warning him.) You’re annoying me.

BIG BAD WOLF: Is there no one who feels any tenderness for one who has died? 15 QUEEN OF HEARTS: Tenderness? You want to see tenderness? (MUSIC CUE 6b: “Set Change–Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” The QUEEN OF HEARTS leads BIG BAD WOLF across the stage as the CREW brings on the Charmings’ table and chairs. HANSEL and GRETEL sit while CINDERELLA sweeps the floor. MUSIC FADES OUT.) 20 BIG BAD WOLF: Yes. Good. The Cratchits’ house. QUEEN OF HEARTS: Charming! BIG BAD WOLF: Right. This is a happy house. (CINDERELLA stops sweeping and dabs at her eyes.) Why is it so quiet here? HANSEL: Mom?

25 GRETEL: Are you okay?

CINDERELLA: Me? Yes. I’m fine. Of course, I got some soot in my

eyes is all.

GRETEL: Sure. CINDERELLA: My eyes are getting weaker. And I would not show weak 30 eyes to your father for all the world. GRETEL: Where is Daddy? HANSEL: Maybe he got lost. GRETEL: He didn’t get lost. HANSEL: I know. He just seems to walk a little slower these days. 35 CINDERELLA: I knew a time when he could run with Tabitha like the wind. (Her throat hitches a little, and she dabs her eyes. Her children dote over her. MUSIC CUE 6c: “Underscore–Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” OPTIONAL CHOIR ENTERS and sings oohs under the following dialogue.) 40 BIG BAD WOLF: Oh, Spirit. Not little Tabitha. 36 PHOTOCOPYINGFor THIS preview SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL only COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 PHILIP: (ENTERS, trying to put on a brave face.) Hello, everyone. GRETEL: Daddy! PHILIP: Sorry I’m late. I got a little lost. HANSEL: Really? 5 PHILIP: Just a little. HANSEL: (Hands over a small bag of marbles.) You can have these, Dad. PHILIP: Your marbles? HANSEL: You can drop them. So you can always find your way home. 10 PHILIP: Thank you, Hansel. CINDERELLA: You went by the church yard then?

PHILIP: Yeah. It’s a great place, Cindy. It’s so green, and there’s a big shade tree, and you can see the pond where the kids skate. CINDERELLA: She always wanted to learn to skate. (Another hitch in 15 her throat.) PHILIP: I didn’t realize it was so late. It’s getting dark. GRETEL: I’ll light a candle. (Starts to go.) PHILIP: Not the matches! (Now his world crumbles around him.) Don’t use… Oh… I would just like to save the matches. (The FAMILY 20 surrounds him in a group hug. MUSIC OUT. CHOIR EXITS.) BIG BAD WOLF: (Quiet and somber.) Oh, spirit. Is there no happiness anywhere? QUEEN OF HEARTS: Why? You don’t make merry yourself. And you can’t afford to make others merry.

25 BIG BAD WOLF: I didn’t mean—

QUEEN OF HEARTS: Did you not say that?

BIG BAD WOLF: Yes, but I didn’t mean it.

QUEEN OF HEARTS: Then, why did you say it? BIG BAD WOLF: I don’t know. I just lost my head for a moment. 30 QUEEN OF HEARTS: Not yet. (Swings the scythe.) BIG BAD WOLF: Please, Spirit. The man who made the pigs so happy by dying. Tell me who it was. QUEEN OF HEARTS: Very well. (MUSIC CUE 6d: “Underscore–Coventry Carol.” OPTIONAL CHOIR ENTERS and sings oohs under the following 35 dialogue. She leads him across the stage again. CHARMINGS EXIT

and the CREW strikes the table and chairs and brings on a single gravestone. QUEEN OF HEARTS points to it.) There. BIG BAD WOLF: Before I look, tell me something. Are these the shadows of things that will be, or the things that, you know, could 40 maybe be.

37 For preview only 1 QUEEN OF HEARTS: Look. BIG BAD WOLF: Tell me I can change things. QUEEN OF HEARTS: Look. BIG BAD WOLF: (Walks to the gravestone, kneels and reads.) Ebenezer 5 Scrooge. This is my grave. QUEEN OF HEARTS: It’s in the cards. BIG BAD WOLF: No, Spirit. I can change. I have changed. QUEEN OF HEARTS: Not enough. BIG BAD WOLF: Yes. I can feel Christmas and keep it in my heart all 10 year long. QUEEN OF HEARTS: No. BIG BAD WOLF: I can. I can sponge away the writing on that stone. Please, Spirit! (Drops to his knees and clutches her.) QUEEN OF HEARTS: How dare you touch me. Off with his head!

15 BIG BAD WOLF: Noooo! (QUEEN OF HEARTS slowly raises the scythe. She is ready to drop it when SOUND EFFECT: THUNDER. BLACKOUT. In the darkness, the CREW quickly replaces the gravestone with Scrooge’s bedroom set, complete with sheets and blanket on the bed. QUEEN OF HEARTS and CHOIR EXIT. MUSIC FADES OUT. ) End of Scene Five Scene Six 20 LIGHTS UP. MOTHER GOOSE: Scrooge screamed in terror and pain and heartache. The world turned to silence and blackness and cold. Nothing moved, and no one breathed as time marched cruelly forward. (SOUND EFFECT: CLOCK CHIMES SIX.) 25 BIG BAD WOLF: (Pokes his head out of the sheets.) What? Six chimes. That can’t be right. What happened to four and five? What time is it? (Digs in his pocket and pulls out the pocket watch. Then it hits him.) My watch. It’s my watch! And my sheets! They’re still here. And my blanket. I’m alive. I am alive! (MUSIC CUE 7: “It’s Christmas

30 Day!” Turns and falls to his knees.) Thank you, Jacob Midas, for

giving me this chance. You had the golden touch, but who’s got the golden heart, baby? And I promise you, Spirits, I will live in the past, the present and the future. (Wanders about, over-amped and excited as a kid on Christmas.) I don’t know what to do. I’m 35 too excited. Look at me. (Clicks his heels.) I’m nimble and quick. I could jump over a candlestick. I could jump over the moon! The world awaits outside! (Grabs the blanket from his bed and runs “outside.” Sings.) I can’t believe I feel this way, I say…

38 For preview only 1 I have a brand new lease on life today. The air is fresh, the colors bright! The light! It’s such a beautiful morn. My world is flipping. 5 Feet are skipping.

No more suspicion and scorn. My heart is flying! No denying This miser has been reborn! 10 My head is reeling From this feeling. So much to give, don’t know where to start. We all receive so much from a gen’rous heart. Hip, hip, hooray!

15 It’s Christmas Day! (BLACK SHEEP ENTERS and crosses the stage. Speaks.) You there, boy! BLACK SHEEP: (Speaks.) I’m a sheep. BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) Sorry. My baaad. Now, my fine lamb. What’s today? 20 BLACK SHEEP: (Speaks.) Why it’s Christmas Day. BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) Christmas Day. I didn’t miss it. The spirits did it all in one night. Well, they’re spirits, they can do whatever they like. BLACK SHEEP: (Speaks.) What? 25 BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) I had a lot of spirits last night. BLACK SHEEP: (Speaks.) I’m not sure I understand. BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) Come now, you’re an intelligent lad. Tell me, do you know the butcher on the next street? BLACK SHEEP: (Nervous, speaks.) They don’t serve mutton! 30 BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) No. No. Do you know if they’ve sold the prize turkey in the window? BLACK SHEEP: (Speaks.) The one as big as me? (BIG BAD WOLF nods. Laughs.) No. It’s still there. BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) Tell you what. You run and wake the butcher, 35 buy me that turkey and I’ll give you a shilling. BLACK SHEEP: (Speaks.) A whole shilling? BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) No, you’re right. Five. Five shillings. Can you do it? BLACK SHEEP: (Speaks.) Yes, sir. Yes, sir! (Runs OFF like a shot.) 40 BIG BAD WOLF: (Runs back “inside,” pulls off his nightshirt and puts on his jacket, hat and scarf. Sings.)

39 For preview only 1 That was exquisite! Finally, I’m free! I found the loving me I used to be. He’s come alive! At last, my soul is whole,

5 And I have so much to share.

My mind is racing.

I’m embracing Giving more than I can spare. The clock is ticking. 10 Heels are clicking. I’m feeling lighter than air! My head is reeling From this feeling. So much to give, don’t know where to start.

15 We all receive so much from a gen’rous heart. Hip, hip, hooray! It’s Christmas Day! MOTHER GOOSE: (Speaks.) And so Scrooge got dressed, his heart as light as a feather. He ran out into the streets of London. 20 (CREW strikes Scrooge’s bedroom. EXTRAS as LONDONERS ENTER and cross the stage, tipping hats and wishing each other “Merry Christmas.” The THREE PIGS ENTER, still taking donations in their bucket. BIG BAD WOLF crosses to MOTHER GOOSE.) People couldn’t help notice that Scrooge had a spring in his step.

25 BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) Are you still telling my story?

MOTHER GOOSE: (Speaks.) Yes. BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) And have I asked you to stop? MOTHER GOOSE: (Speaks.) Yes. BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) And you haven’t? 30 MOTHER GOOSE: (Speaks.) No. BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) Good. I like that kind of determination. I should like to hire you to write my biography. MOTHER GOOSE: (Speaks.) Um… ah… I… I don’t have a publisher. BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) Well, then we shall have to buy a publishing 35 house, won’t we? Come see me Monday morning. Merry Christmas! MOTHER GOOSE: (Stunned, speaks.) Uh… uh… uh… BIG BAD WOLF: (Sings.) Tra-la-la-la, la-la-la-la! Fa-la-la-la, la-la! Tra-la-la-la, la-la-la-la! 40 Fa-la-la loo-lay! It’s Christmas Day! (Sees the THREE PIGS. They see him and try to turn and run. Speaks.) Gentlepigs!

40 PHOTOCOPYINGFor THIS preview SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL only COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 BALE: (Speaks.) Gulp. BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) About your charity, have you met your goal? TWIG: (Speaks.) No. Not by the hair of my— BRICK: (Speaks.) Don’t. Just don’t. 5 BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) Then, I shall like to make a donation. (Drops a large bag of coins in their bucket. Plunk. The PIGS are stunned.) There are a lot of back payments in there. BALE: (Speaks.) Th-th-thank you, sir! BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) And one more thing. (Hands a slip of paper 10 to BRICK, who looks at it.) BRICK: (Speaks.) A deed? The deed to my house! BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) Yes. Fine brick building like that. Shame to tear it down. BRICK: (Speaks.) But your pumpkin? 15 BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) Oh, the last thing the world needs is another strip shopping shell. Merry Christmas. PIGS: (Speaks.) Merry Christmas, sir! BLACK SHEEP: (Runs ON, pulling a wagon with a large turkey-shaped bag on it. Speaks.) I’ve got your turkey, sir. 20 BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) Outstanding! Come, we’ve a lot of people to see. CROWD: (Sings.) It’s come at last! The bells all ring-a-ling! All joyful people lift your voice and sing. 25 Caroling news of him whose birth on Earth Brings hope and love to us all. Cheerful and jolly, Boughs of holly Adorn each mantel and hall.

30 It’s Christmas spirit! Can’t you hear it? Rejoicing, we heed the call. My head is reeling From this feeling. 35 So much to give, don’t know where to start. We all receive so much from a gen’rous heart. Hip, hip, hooray! It’s Christmas Day! (JACK and MARY ENTER.)

BIG BAD WOLF: (Runs to them. Speaks.) Jack!

40 JACK: (Speaks.) Uncle?! BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) And this must be your lovely wife.

41 For preview only 1 MARY: (Speaks.) Must I? BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) I’m so sorry we’ve never met. MARY: (Speaks.) Our invitations must have gotten lost in the mail. BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) Invitations? 5 MARY: (Speaks.) To our wedding. Anniversaries. Birthdays. Christmas dinner every year. BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) I’ve been busy. But I have an opening in my schedule if I could join you for dinner tomorrow. If it’s not too much trouble. 10 MARY: (Speaks.) Umm. No. No trouble. BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) But please. No beans. I don’t like beans. JACK: (Speaks.) Um… Uncle, in this economy we’ve had to tighten our belts and— BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) I was thinking eggs. (Pulls a large golden 15 egg out of his pocket and hands it to JACK.) JACK: (Speaks.) A golden egg?

BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) It’s the last one. Your mother asked me to look after it for you until the perfect moment arrived. And this moment is perfect, because it’s right now. (Kisses MARY’S cheek.)

20 By the way, I may be foolish, but I am not an evil monster.

MARY: (Gasps and speaks.) How did you—?

BIG BAD WOLF: (Winks at her, tapping her nose. Speaks.) Until tomorrow. Merry Christmas, Jack! JACK: (Speaks.) Merry Christmas, Uncle! 25 BIG BAD WOLF/CROWD: (Sing.) Tra-la-la-la, la-la-la-la! Fa-la-la-la, la-la! Tra-la-la-la, la-la-la-la! Fa-la-la loo-lay! It’s Christmas Day! 30 BIG BAD WOLF: (To MOTHER GOOSE, speaks.) Where to now? MOTHER GOOSE: (Speaks.) Oh. I know. (The CREW brings on the table and chairs for the Charming house. PHILIP, CINDERELLA, HANSEL, GRETEL and TABITHA ENTER and sit. BIG BAD WOLF puts his finger to his lips, telling the CROWD that follows him to hush, hide and 35 watch. Then, he wipes the smile off his face and storms into the Charming house, yelling.) Bob Cratchit! PHILIP: (Jumps up. Speaks.) Mr. Scrooge! BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) You were not at work today! PHILIP: (Speaks.) No, sir. You gave me the day off. 40 BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) The day off. Does that sound like something I’d do?

42 For preview only 1 PHILIP: (Speaks.) No, sir. Yes, sir. No… um… BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) Now, you listen to me, Bob Cratchit— CINDERELLA: (Speaks.) Philip! His name is Philip. Prince Philip, you mangy old wolf!

5 BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) And this must be your Charming wife. CINDERELLA: (Speaks.) Now, get out of my house. BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) You will be at work tomorrow. PHILIP: (Speaks.) Yes, sir. BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) And the first thing you will do is fix the sign 10 over the door. PHILIP: (Speaks.) Yes, sir. Fix it? BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) It’s out of date. It should read Scrooge and Charming.

PHILIP: (Speaks.) I’ll do that first thing— (It hits him.) Charming?

15 BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) It’s time I took on a new partner, Philip, if you’re willing. (CHARMINGS gasp, thrilled.) I know it’s not a kingdom—certainly not worthy of a prince like you—but together, maybe we can make it an empire. What do you say? Partner? PHILIP: (Speaks.) Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Scrooge. 20 BIG BAD WOLF: (Speaks.) And you, madam, would your family join us for a Christmas feast? (Signals to the CROWD that comes into the scene, bringing baskets, food and the wagon of turkey.)

ALL: (Sing.) Tra-la-la-la, la-la-la-la! Fa-la-la-la, la-la!

25 Tra-la-la-la, la-la-la-la! Fa-la-la loo-lay! Tra-la-la-la, la-la-la-la! Fa-la-la-la, la-la! Tra-la-la-la, la-la-la-la! 30 Fa-la-la loo-lay! It’s Christmas Day! (MUSIC OUT. MUSIC CUE 7a: “Underscore– Silent Night.” OPTIONAL CHOIR ENTERS and sings oohs under the following dialogue.) MOTHER GOOSE: And so, Scrooge was as good as his word. Better 35 in fact. It was said in years to come that he knew how to keep the Christmas spirit alive the whole year long. BIG BAD WOLF: (Shouts over the CROWD.) I like that part. Keep that in the book. MOTHER GOOSE: He was a friend to all, family to most and the

40 beloved uncle to the children of London. And as for Tabitha…

43 For preview only 1 BIG BAD WOLF: (Puts TABITHA on his knee.) I have a present for you. (Hands TABITHA an envelope.) TABITHA: (Opens it.) A train ticket? BIG BAD WOLF: Have you ever been to Gloucester?

5 TABITHA: No, sir.

BIG BAD WOLF: Well, I know a Doctor Foster there who is very anxious to see you.

TABITHA: Bless you, Mr. Scrooge! BIG BAD WOLF: Oh, no. No, no, no. I think you can do better than that. 10 (To CROWD.) All together now. (MUSIC OUT.) ALL: God bless us! Everyone! (There’s joy, laughter and lots of hugs. MUSIC CUE 7b: “It’s Christmas Day–Reprise/We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Sing.) It’s come at last! The bells all ring-a-ling! 15 All joyful people lift your voice and sing, Caroling news of him whose birth on Earth Brings hope and love to us all. Cheerful and jolly, Boughs of holly 20 Adorn each mantel and hall.

It’s Christmas spirit!

Can’t you hear it? Rejoicing, we heed the call.

My head is reeling

25 From this feeling! So much to give, don’t know where to start. We all receive so much from a gen’rous heart. Hip, hip, hooray! It’s Christmas Day! 30 We wish you a merry Christmas! We wish you a merry Christmas! We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year! (LIGHTS FADE to BLACK. MUSIC OUT.) END OF MUSICAL MUSIC CUE 7c: “Curtain Call–“ 35 ALL: (After bows, sing.) We wish you a merry Christmas! We wish you a merry Christmas! We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year!

44 PHOTOCOPYINGFor THIS preview SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL only COPYRIGHT LAWS PRODUCTION NOTES

PROPERTIES ONSTAGE Scene One: Stool, Scrooge’s office consisting of two tables, two stools, ledgers, quills Scene Two: Stool, Scrooge’s bedroom consisting of bed with sheets and blanket, chair, nightstand table. There’s a nightshirt on the chair and a bowl, spoon and candle on the table

Scene Three: Stool, Scrooge’s bedroom, classroom consisting of a freestanding blackboard and a few chairs, Fezziwig’s shoe shop

consisting of a podium and two worktables, and a park denoted by a park bench

Scene Four: Stool, Scrooge’s bedroom, Jack and Mary’s house consisting of some chairs, the Charming house consisting of a table set with a meager meal, five chairs Scene Five: Stool, Scrooge’s bedroom, gravestone Scene Six: Stool, Scrooge’s bedroom

PROPERTIES BROUGHT ON Scene One: Donation bucket with the words “Order of Victoria” (BALE) Coins (JACK) Pair of crutches, coins (TABITHA)

Scene Three: Star-tipped wand, clipboard with several pages (MERIWETHER) Bags (LITTLE BO PEEP, HUMPTY DUMPTY, EXTRA STUDENTS) Book (LITTLE WOLF) Hand fan (FAN) Shoeboxes (ELVES) Horn (LITLE BOY BLUE) Fiddle (CAT) Ring (GOLDILOCKS) Scene Four: Donation bucket with the words “Order of Victoria” (PIGS) Coins (EXTRA LONDONERS) One crutch (TABITHA) Scene Five: Scythe (QUEEN OF HEARTS) Blanket, sheets, bucket with jewelry including pocket watch (PIGS) Broom (CINDERELLA) Bag of marbles (HANSEL)

45 For preview only Scene Six: Donation bucket (PIGS) Pocket watch, large bag of coins, slip of paper, golden egg, envelope

with train ticket (BIG BAD WOLF) Wagon with turkey shaped bag (BLACK SHEEP) Baskets, food (EXTRA LONDONERS)

SOUND EFFECTS Howling wind, creaking boards, ringing bells, scary music, clock chimes, fast dance music, slow dance music, thunder, cheerful music. SET CHANGES/DICKENSIAN CAROLERS There are multiple easy set changes in this show, and several traditional Christmas carols have been provided for you to use as set change music. You have many options as to how to use this music: A CHOIR of DICKENSIAN CAROLERS may ENTER and sing while the sets are being changed. This choir allows you to expand your cast size, and they can rehearse separately from the rest of the cast. These CAROLERS can also be the EXTRA LONDONERS in scenes four and six. This choir can change the sets while they sing. If not using the carolers, the set change music may be used as instrumental interludes while the sets are being changed.

Of course, you also have the option to not use the set change music at all. However, if you do use the music, in the interest of time, feel free to fade out the music as soon as the set change is complete before the end of the musical number, if desired.

FLEXIBLE CASTING

For a cast as large as 30 or more, include all 29 speaking parts plus the choir. Actors with very few lines as well as the choir can fill out other scenes as extras.

For a smaller cast, significant doubling and even tripling is possible.

The cast can be as small as 16, though this would require several significant costume changes.

Many of the fairy tale characters who only appear in one scene, such as Little Bo Peep and Humpty Dumpty, can easily be changed to another character, if desired. Figure out what works for you in terms of costumes and have fun!

COSTUME SUGGESTIONS Have a ball with this! Since this is a blending of the fairy tale world and 19th century Victorian London, let’s blend the costumes as well.

46 For preview only The fun here is to mash-up the worlds. Again, it’s all representative, so it’s whatever your budget will allow. Think big, bright colors for the fairy tale clothes; earth tones for the Victorian clothing. For instance, BIG BAD WOLF can be dressed in full Scrooge wear, but with wolf ears poking out of his top hat and a tail from his pants. He can have furry gloves for his hands and a wolf’s nose with whiskers. The THREE LITTLE PIGS can be costumed in baggy wool trousers, white shirts with rolled-up sleeves and newsboy caps. They have pig ears, noses and curly tails, too.

There are many characters that don’t need to blend into Dickens’ world. MERIWETHER, OLD KING COLE and QUEEN OF HEARTS can be standard fairy tale costumes. There are no rules and this is your playground, so go have fun!

47 For preview only Thank you for reading this E-view.

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