Set
When it came to set, a lot of it was handmade in the studio by our production team, consisting of a few members from our company. This included Scrooge’s bed, a headboard painted to appear rustic and withered and attached to a wooden platform, a doublesided, painted fireplace (that I assisted in painting the brickwork for) which showed the alternative lifestyles of the poor and wealthy, one being a large fire and the other barely blazing. The last piece of set we made ourselves was a gravestone which we made ambiguous enough to be repurposed; we painted a flat board grey and wrote “R.I.P.” on it in order to use it for Scrooge’s future vision in which he is shown to be dead, and Tiny Tim’s hypothetical future funeral in the very same vision. Our research to contribute toward this consisted of looking into the Victorian Era and the stylings of their Christmas decorations. Due to poverty, presents were wrapped in affordable tissue paper and Christmas trees were decorated very minimally, remaining sort of plain. There was not a variety of colors due to the lack of funds to spare on ornaments, so our tree had a few baubles and was quite small.
Lighting
We used a lot of spotlights in order to focus on Scrooge, not just because he was the main protagonist, but also to symbolize how self-centered he was and how he truly had no regard for other people outside of his own interests. We took advantage of the shadows that appeared in low, dull lighting in order to create a dark atmosphere to emphasize the tension, especially in scenes that included Scrooge’s deceased former partner, Jacob Marley, and the spirit of Christmas yet to come, building on the darkness the two bring metaphorically in Scrooge’s life and his sudden brush with mortality. For the dance, we used a combination of red and white flashing lights to encompass the terror Scrooge was hit with as the spirits bombarded his room; the flashing of the lights portrayed the whirlwind of emotions he was shocked with and the dizziness he was stifled by as he realized there is a life after death and that for people like him, it was not pleasant.
Sound
For sound, we started off with merry carols to welcome the audience, immersing them in the euphoric atmosphere that the townspeople feel around Christmas time, specifically focusing on the carol “Joy To The World”, as it is a joyous melody to begin with and decreases in tempo toward the end, causing the audience to feel anticipation and uncertainty surrounding Scrooge’s arrival. The company created a soundscape using several instruments, such as a rain stick, stomping feet and bells to create a fearful and paranormal atmosphere as Jacob Marley made his presence known to both Ebenezer and the audience. For the ending, we used traditional Victorian Christmas music in order to stay true to the setting and context, hoping to truly immerse the audience and allow them to feel as if they really were witnessing a Victorian Christmas celebration.
Costume
For my costume, I had to portray a wealthy man who spent his days collecting charity for the poor. To emulate his wealth without making him seem like a money-hungry individual only concerned about his own wealth like Scrooge, his most contrasting character, I stuck to simple, smart attire: a white collared shirt, a long, black Victorian style coat, black dress pants and a magenta scarf. This portrayed my character as someone who could afford sturdy, clean and appealing clothes without looking as though he is attempting to rub his wealth in anyone else’s face. This is because as a charity collector, he empathizes with the poor and wishes to help them, not make them feel less than him or to waste money he could use to help others on things he doesn’t need when he can get by using just what he needs instead of what he may want.
Props
For my props, my character had a business card that he hands to Scrooge in hopes that he will assist him in charity work and perhaps even spread the word of his business to others, however Scrooge simply brushes him off and states that “I can read what it says”, forcing the charity collector to take his card back instead of leaving it with Scrooge to pass on like he had hoped. This shows the audience how professional he is and has been doing this sort of thing for a long time, clearly a man of good heart and good intentions.
Script Analysis
In my first scene, my character walks into Scrooge’s office after being let in by Scrooge’s employee, Bob Cratchit. After Cratchit’s politeness and the gentleman visitor’s jovial spirit during this time of giving, he felt uncontrollably joyous and intended to share that with Scrooge as they laughed and contributed generously to the lives of those less fortunate. This of course, however, did not go to plan as Scrooge said this:
“GENTLEMAN VISITOR:
Scrooge and Marley’s, I believe. Have I the pleasure of addressing Mr. Scrooge or Mr. Marley?
SCROOGE:
Marley’s dead. Seven years tonight. What is it you want?”
He responds coldly; in the gentleman visitor’s mind, he feels as though that was a response given due to grief and the unfortunate reminder the his dear friend is gone, so he brushed off the bluntness as a potential fault of his own.
“GENTLEMAN VISITOR:
I have no doubt that his kindness is well represented by his surviving partner. Here, sir, my card.
(He hands Scrooge his business card.)
SCROOGE:
Kindness? No doubt of it? All right, all right, I can read. What is it you want? (he returns to his work.)“
Scrooge ignores the business card displayed before him, as despite the fact that the gentleman visitor intended to perhaps give it to Scrooge in order to spread the word of his organization, Scrooge had little concern for this man and whatever had brought him here, not even reading the card despite his claim that he had. This causes the gentleman visitor to regroup his approach, going down the route of vitality by highlighting the importance of the issue at hand instead of dealing with pleasantries. He thinks that perhaps Scrooge is simply a busy man who values his time and wishes to get his affairs dealt with in a timely manner, and that surely if he gets straight to the point that he will donate to his cause.
“GENTLEMAN VISITOR:
At this festive season of the year…
SCROOGE:
It’s winter and cold. (He continues his work and ignores the gentleman visitor.)
GENTLEMAN VISITOR:
Yes…yes, it is, and the more reason for my visit. At this time of the year it is more than usually
desirable to make some slight provision for the poor and penniless who suffer greatly from the cold.
Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of
common comforts, sir.”
Scrooge’s pessimism clearly throws the visitor off, causing him to stumble over his words and attempt to rationalize with Ebenezer by bouncing off of his points, struggling with the pessimists’ refusal to cooperate.
“SCROOGE:
Are there no debtor’s prisons?
GENTLEMAN VISITOR:
Many, sir.
SCROOGE:
And the workhouse, is it still in operation?
GENTLEMAN VISITOR:
It is, still, I wish I could say it was not.
SCROOGE:
The poor law is still in full strength then?
GENTLEMAN VISITOR:
Yes, sir.
SCROOGE:
I’m glad to hear it. From what you said, I was afraid someone had stopped its operation.
GENTLEMAN VISITOR:
Under the impression that they barely provide Christian cheer of mind or body to many people, a
few of us are hoping to raise fund to buy the poor some meat and drink and means of warmth. We
chose this time because it is the time, of all others, when want is strongly felt and abundance
rejoices. May I put you down for something sir?
SCROOGE:
Nothing.
GENTLEMAN VISITOR:
You wish to be anonymous?”
In the visitor’s mind, he for a brief moment believes he has gotten through to the cold man, rejoicing so faintly as he thinks to himself “See? He is a good man, just as you had thought, he’s just a bit abrasive.”
“SCROOGE:
I wish to be left alone. Since you ask me what I wish, sir, that is my answer. I don’t make merry
myself at Christmas and I can’t afford to make lazy people merry. I help support the
establishments I have mentioned…they cost enough…and those who are poorly off must go there.
GENTLEMAN VISITOR:
Many can’t go there, and many would rather die.
SCROOGE:
If they would rather die, they had better do it and decrease the surplus population.”
The visitor stops dead in his tracks, his face dropping, his heart sinking and his mouth falling agape in shock and disgust. With each word Ebenezer utters, speaking so ill of the poor and needy who are just people like the visitor and Scrooge himself, his body fills with rage at what a horrific man this stranger turned out to be. He questioned why he bothered entering to begin with. His brows furrow and knit a horrified expression of resentment and utter disbelief, his eyes wide and tracing Scrooge’s face as his mouth spits vapid words and ignorance like poison. He finds himself unable to speak and his movements limited, stepping backward as Ebenezer walks toward him in his fit of rage.
“SCROOGE:
That is not my affair. My business is. It occupies me constantly. (He talks both to the gentleman
visitor and himself while he thumbs through his books.) Ask a man to give up life and means…fine
thing. What is it, I want to know? Charity? Damned charity!”
At this point, the visitor storms off, slamming the door behind him and shooting Cratchit a look on his way out as if to say “I am so sorry you have to put up with that monster.”