A Christmas Carol

Christmas 2009 Production Photo Gallery

     Charles Dickens'
   A Christmas Carol
     A RADIO DRAMA ON STAGE
      ADAPTED FOR RADIO DRAMA BY TONY PALERMO

What is Radio Drama On Stage?
The show is performed as a 1940s-era live radio show, with costumed actors standing on stage and reading from scripts while standing at microphones. Sound effects artists, and the actors themselves, create the sounds of bells, crashing ghosts, doors, footsteps in snow, etc, in front of a live audience.

Beaver Brothers, the makers of De Luxe Soap Flakes, brings you
"De Luxe Radio Theatre...." And now, a beautiful Christmas Carol
featuring the Starlight Radio Players...

Bring a Torch! Jeannette Isabella. Bring a torch, come, hurry and run!
It is Jesus, good folk of the village, Christ is born and Mary's calling...

And now, our Producer, Mr. William Neeley...

Greetings, ladies and gentlemen...

Charles Dickens' ghost story of Christmas opens in London,

on a cold, snowy, December twenty fourth, in the year eighteen forty three...

Once upon a time--of all the good days in the year--
on Christmas Eve, Old Scrooge sat busy in his counting house.

You, nephew, what right have you to be merry?
You're poor enough. Christmas? Bah! Humbug!

Umm...Two to see you Mr. Scrooge...

Good day sir! I am Mrs. Poole. This is Mrs. Lamb...
At this festive season, Mr. Scrooge, wee seek charity for the Poor and Destitute.

I help to support the prisons and workhouses.
They cost enough. Let those who are badly off go there...

But many can't go there. Yes, many would rather die.

If they would rather die, they had better do it
and decrease the surplus population.

I see...so the firm of Scrooge and Marley declines...

[Sound Effects] Uh... Mr. Scrooge? It's seven o'clock, sir...and it is Christmas Eve.

Ebenezer Scrooge!

Someone's in the cellar! But the doors are locked!
Double-locked! Something...is coming... Closer!
It's humbug! I won't believe it! Humbug, I say...

[Sound effects] Every Bell in the house must be ringing!

Business? Business? Mankind was my business!
The common welfare was my business!

I'm...I'm sorry for you, Jacob. Is there anything I can do?

[Sound effects] I wear the chain I forged in life--link by link, yard by yard!

Ebenezer! Look out the window...
The poor women and the child, huddled on the doorstep...

I'm so hungry, Mother. Have we any food left? No my Miriam. We've nothing...

Look! Ebenezer. There walks Henry Smythe, towards them.
His eyes are on the pavement, as usual...

Away! Away from me, you insufferable beggars!

Charlotte, sing us your song of Christmas..Let us sing for Miriam,
and the Angels will attend us....

What child is this? Who, laid to rest on Mary's lap is sleeping.
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherd's watch are keeping.

I am the Ghost of Christmas Past...Your past...
I come for your welfare. Rise, and walk with me.

As the words were spoken, they passed through the wall,
and stood upon an open country road, with fields on either hand...

Good heaven! I was bred in this place.
I was a boy here! It's Fan! My beloved sister, Fan!

Dear brother, I have come to bring you home.
Yes, home! Home for ever and ever!

Why, it's old Fezziwig! Bless his heart! It's Fezziwig--alive again!

Yo ho, there! Ebenezer! Dick! No more work tonight. Christmas Eve. Ha Ha!
Stop the music! The lovely Mrs. Fezziwig will lead us in "Deck the Hall!"
Ladies, stand in and take your turn.

Deck the Hall with boughs of Holly. Fa-la-la-la-la la-la-la-la!

You were quite enjoying yourself, Scrooge...
What? Is something bothering you?

Ebenezer...I release you from our engagement, with a full heart,
for the love of him you once were...
Dear Ebenezer, may you be happy in the life you have chosen.

No... No! Belle! Don't... Don't!

Scrooge opened the door and found his own sitting room transfomed!
The walls and ceiling were so hung with living green that it looked a perfect grove.

Come in! Come in and know me better, man.
I am the Ghost of Christmas Present!
You've never seen the like of me before!

This is the home of my clark, Bob Cratchit, and his wife and six children.

How did little Tim behave at church, Bob?

As good as gold, Mother, and better, eh, Tim?

I hoped the people saw me in the church, because I'm a cripple.
And it might be pleasant for them to remember--on Christmas--
who made lame beggars walk and blind men see.

Bless you, my son. See Mother, his heart is strong and he will get better. I know it.

Oh, let's play a game, Father! Play the "Memory Game" with us!

Yes! And then we'll sing some songs and...Oh! look at that Goooooose!

Martha, dear. Sit next to Tiny Tim and make sure he eats plenty.
He must get strong and well...

Tell me, Spirit... Tell me if Tiny Tim will live.

Why? "If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population."

Oh, you use my words against me!

And then he said Christmas was a humbug!
As I live! And he believed it, too!

(Laughing) More shame for him, Fred.

[Sound Effects] As the stroke of midnight rang,
Scrooge remembered the prediction of old Jacob Marley, and...

Scrooge beheld the Third Spirit... a solemn phantom...
Shrouded in black... draped and hooded, coming,
like a mist along the ground... towards him.

Oh, Ghost of the Future, I fear you
more than any specter I've seen... The night is waning fast... lead on!

[Sound Effects-Cymbal roll]
Why! It's my accustomed corner at the Royal Exchange...
And here are my fellow businessmen...

(Yawns) It's likely to be a very cheap funeral, for upon my life,
I don't know of anybody to go to it.

I don't mind going... if a lunch is provided!

[Sound Effects] Door creaks open. Footsteps enter.

What obscure part of town are we in now, Spirit?
This whole quarter reeks with crime, with filth, and misery...
A rag-and-bottle shop. Who are these grotesque people?

Who's that comin' into the shop, little missus?

It's the charwoman, the laundress, and the undertaker.

Who's the worse for the loss of a few things like these?
Not a dead man, I suppose.

If he wanted to keep 'em after he was dead, the wicked ol' screw,
why wasn't he natural in his lifetime?

[Sound Effects--Rumble-board thunder and chains]
Spirit! that gravestone! What is written upon it? ... Wait!
The name on the grave is Ebenezer Scrooge! No!