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The Play Meet the Playwright Characters at a Glance Christmas: 1941 Spotlight: The Three Ghosts Charles Dickens The Bonus March World Leaders in War

the play

This version of the Charles Dickens classic takes place in Washington, “The new year 1942 will call for D.C. after the attack on Pearl Harbor the courage and the resolution in 1941. Elijah Strube is a greedy of old and young to help to win business owner, taking advantage of a world struggle in order that his employees and using the war to we may preserve all we hold increase his profits. One night, he is dear.” –President Franklin visited by his deceased business Delano Roosevelt partner, Jack Marley, who warns him against greed and dishonesty. To save his partner from the pain and torment he suffers in the afterlife, Marley sends the statues Victory, Freedom and Grief to show Elijah scenes from Christmases in his past, present and future. Can they show him the error of CHRISTMAS his ways? CAROL 1941

Attack on Pearl Harbor— On December 7, 1941, the Now Playing in the Fichandler Japanese army launched a November 16 – December 30, 2007 surprise attack on the U.S. Naval Adapted from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. by James Magruder More than 2,300 people were original songs: music by Henry Krieger, lyrics by killed, and the United States Susan Birkenhead entered World War II soon after. directed by Molly Smith

MEET THE THE PLAYWRIGHT’S PLAYWRIGHT CHARACTERS INSPIRATION

AT A GLANCE he Schroen family is Tbased on playwright Elijah Strube, James Magruder’s maternal the Scrooge-like character, is a selfish D.C. grandparents – Henry and businessman, who cares more for profits than Margarette Schroen – and his fellow man or country. their two children – Magruder’s mother and Henry Schroen, uncle. The Schroen family the Bob Cratchitt character, is Elijah’s poor clerk, who lived in Anacostia, a supports his family with his extraordinarily fast typing. neighborhood in Washington, Margarette Schroen D.C., during World War II. is Henry’s wife, who represents the can-do attitude of The real-life Henry Schroen women during World War II. supported his family through Butch Schroen the Great Depression James is Henry’s son who wants to join the army, but is too because he could type 120 Magruder young. words a minute, faster than the electric typewriters. Carolyn Schroen Margarette Schroen was n eighth grade, James is Henry’s elementary school aged known for making a delicious IMagruder went to a daughter, who adores her older brother pineapple upside-down cake. nearby high school to see and does her part for the war effort by the spring musical, Bye collecting money for Polish orphans. Magruder said, “It was a Bye, Birdie. Magruder said, Albert Schroen joyful experience to write “As I watched the kids is Henry’s brother who fought in World War I and something so close to my singing ‘The Telephone marched for his bonus (see Bonus March). He hasn’t heart – it’s my family. The Song,’ my hair went up on spoken since returning from the war. play is honoring their end and I said to myself, I memory, capturing part of want to be a part of that.” Activity: Traditionally in A Christmas Carol, Bob their personal history on Cratchitt has a son named Tiny Tim, who is ill stage. They were some of Magruder has successfully but still symbolizes the true spirit of Christmas. the millions of anonymous created a career in Which character is Tiny Tim in this adaptation? Americans who pitched in theater. He has his PhD Why? What does he or she symbolize? during World War II.” from the Yale School of Drama. He has been a dramaturg – like an editor and researcher for playwrights and directors CHRISTMAS: 19 41 – at Center Stage in Baltimore. He has also ecember 1941 was a to their radios as President Albert and Donald could be translated and adapted Dtime of great uncertainty Franklin Delano Roosevelt sent to war without warning. several plays for the stage. and patriotism in the United declared war on Japan. Three Women like Margarette and States. For two years, the days later Germany declared Hazel had to find ways to In this adaptation, Allies (including France and war on the United States. support themselves and their Magruder weaves Great Britain) had been families while the men were imagination and the fighting the Axis powers Immediately, the United States away. Just three weeks after personal history of his (including Germany, Italy and mobilized for war. People the United States entered the family with the classic A Japan). The world was at war. flooded Washington, D.C. to war, their lives had changed. Christmas Carol story and Although the United States contribute to the war effort. the history of Washington, had supplied money and Young men enlisted in the Activity: Your D.C. in 1941. He said, “A weapons to Britain, it had not armed forces. People rushed to grandparents or Christmas Carol is a story fully committed to the war. grocery stores and stocked up older neighbors of sacrifice and on supplies they thought would probably have redemption – 1941 in On December 7, 1941, the become scarce during wartime. memories of living on the Washington, D.C. was a Japanese army attacked the home front during World War time of sacrifice and U.S. naval base at Pearl When Christmas came in II. Interview someone who redemption in this nation.” Harbor in Hawaii, killing over 1941, families like the was alive at this time about 2,300 people. The next day, Schroens had much to worry their experiences, and share over 60,000 people listened about. Men like Henry, Butch, your findings with your class.

SPOTLIGHT: THE THREE GHOSTS

ince it was written in 1843, Charles Dickens’ Snovella, A Christmas Carol, has been rewritten countless times for television, film, opera, theater and radio. With minor variations, the characters and their story remain the same. What changes, more often than not, are the creative forms writers choose for the Christmas spirits that visit Scrooge.

In Christmas Carol 1941, James Magruder chose various monuments from around D.C. for his spirits. Charles Dickens WINGED VICTORY The Ghost of Christmas Past is enerally considered the portrayed by Winged Victory, the greatest Victorian statue atop the First Division G novelist, Charles Dickens Monument, located near the White lived from 1812-1870. He House. The monument was constructed wrote many novels including to honor those members of the Army’s First Great Expectations, Oliver Division who died during World War I. Twist, A Tale of Two Cities and David Copperfield. Most FREEDOM of his novels were written as Freedom, the statue atop the Capitol serials – stories that building, is the Ghost of Christmas Present. appeared one or two She holds a sword and laurel wreath, chapters at a time in literary symbolizing the power of freedom in the magazines, much like United States in times of war and television shows today peace. Symbols of the United States appear in episodes. (like the stars and stripes and its motto “E. Pluribus Unum”) decorate A Christmas Carol was the her clothing. She also wears an eagle’s first and most celebrated of head, feathers and talons to represent Dickens’ Christmas writings. Native Americans. He loved the holiday, and E. Pluribus Unum—Latin for “from many, wrote many stories and novels about it including one.” This refers to the union of many The Chimes and The Cricket on states in one country and the diversity of the Hearth. U.S. citizens. Victorian—from or typical GRIEF of the time period when The statue at a memorial for a man’s Queen Victoria I was wife in Rock Creek Cemetery is The Queen of England Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. (1837-1901). Commonly called “Grief,” the statue is a seated figure, neither male nor female, meant to show acceptance that Activity: Imagine death comes for every person. you are a writer in Victorian England. What would you write your serial about? Activity: Imagine you are writing your own Who would the characters version of A Christmas Carol. What kind of be? How would you build ghosts would you have? suspense to keep readers? THE BONUS MARCH Helpful Hints for Theater Audiences As an audience member at the theater, YOU After World War I, Congress voted to give all who had served in the armed forces a bonus are part of the show! Just as you see and hear of $1 - $1.25 for each day of service. Veterans would receive their bonuses by 1945. the actors onstage, they can see and hear you in the audience. To help the performers do In 1932, about 20,000 veterans of World War I gathered in Washington, D.C. to demand their best, please remember the following: that Congress pay them, as promised, for their service. Though their bonuses were not due, the Great Depression left them too poor to support themselves. The “Bonus Arrive at least 30 minutes early. Army” set up tents and makeshift houses around the Capitol. Visit the restroom before the show starts. Most went home when Congress denied them the money, but 5,000 stayed and protested for weeks. The character Before the show begins, turn off Uncle Albert was one of them. President Hoover sent the your cell phone, watch alarms, army to drive the protestors out. They used bayonets and pagers, and other electronic tear gas and burned the camp (pictured). One marcher devices. If anything rings by was killed and many were wounded. accident, shut it off immediately.

The Great Depression—a period of extreme economic hardship between 1929 Save food and drinks for the lobby. There is no eating or drinking and 1939 when many were unemployed and those who had jobs made very little inside the theater. money. Many people went without basic necessities. Walk to and from your seat - no SCARCITY & RATIONS running in the theater! Margarette Schroen can’t make pineapple upside-down Do not talk, whisper, sing, or hum. cake for Christmas because there is no pineapple at any Keep your feet on the floor, not on of the grocery stores. During World War II, some items were the seat in front of you. in such low supply that the government rationed them to make sure that everyone (especially American soldiers) Avoid getting up during a show got what they needed. Each week, a family got a certain because it distracts your neighbors number of coupons for rationed items like gasoline, sugar, and the performers. If you must coffee and canned fruits and vegetables. Fruits and leave, wait for a scene change, vegetables were so scarce that many families began then exit quietly and quickly. growing their own in “Victory Gardens.” Posters like Performers appreciate enthusiastic these encouraged women to can and preserve fruits applause rather than whistling or and vegetables to feed their families. shouting. ration—to restrict the amount people can have of an item that is in short supply. Cameras and videotape are prohibited because they are WORLD LEADERS IN WAR distracting to the performers. fter the United States entered World War II, the leaders of the AUnited States and Great Britain met in Washington, D.C. to plan Enjoy the show! their war strategy. This meeting took place in December 1941. WINSTON CHURCHILL FRANKLIN DELANO In Christmas Carol 1941, Elijah ROOSEVELT Franklin and Henry listen to Winston Delano Roosevelt’s Churchill’s Christmas Eve Christmas Eve Message to address to the American the Nation begins the play. people. As the Prime Minister He was the only American of England between 1940 and President to be elected 1945, Churchill led his country to victory in World four times and saw the United States 1101 Sixth Street, SW War II. He was famous for his talent as a speaker through both the Great Depression and Washington, DC 20024 and was also a Nobel Prize winning author. World War II. Phone: (202) 554-9066 Fax: (202) 488-4056 Additional Resources Community Engagement Phone: (202) 234-5782 Books/Plays: Video: Fax: (202) 797-1043 A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens The War The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens (documentary by Ken Burns) Written by Emily Denison Scrooged! Edited by Rebecca Campana On the Web: A Muppet Christmas Carol Illustration by Raul Colón Northwestern University Library: WWII Posters Collection: www.library.northwestern.edu/govinfo/collections/wwii-posters/ Visit www.arenastage.org for On the Homefront: America During World War I and World War II: more information on Arena http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/homefront/index.html Stage productions and The War: www.pbs.org/thewar educational opportunities.