| the_set_and_cast_christmas_carol2.doc |
THE SET:
When the lights go up on the stage we are looking at the empty stage of the old Marley and Scrooge theatre.
At the left front of the stage are long dark red curtains, which are caught up in loops and extend half way across above the stage. Little white lights are hung along the curtains edges.
The floor of the stage is painted with wide rainbow coloured stripes.
At the back is a balcony, supported by pillars, from each side of which open steps descend to a small landing, and then turn down to the floor. The steps are protected by railings on one side and perched atop the railing to the right is a skull. The balcony and stairs are outlined with small white lights. Behind the railed balcony, sparkling ropes hang in front of the wall which is painted in sections of red, yellow, green and blue. Portraits of past actors hang on the walls. From time to time The IMAGES OF these ACTORS ARE PROJECTED AND MOVE. A special light on a stand is on the right of the balcony. Known as the Ghost light it was used to illuminate the trap door which is underneath the balcony, on the square raised area of the stage. Up two steps at each side of the balcony is a door, the one on the left leads to Scrooge’s bedroom.
Downstairs, a tall mirror hanging on the back of a door is illuminated by small lights, centre back, with five small photos above. To the left of the door is a sound machine, wound by a large handle and various implements for creating sound effects sit in front of it on a cluttered table. To the right of the mirror, under the balcony, are costumes hanging on wall hooks, and a rack of hanging clothes, as well as a coat stand, with long coats hanging from it. In front of the clothes, on the raised stage area, is Scrooge’s wide wooden desk, heaped with a stack of yellowing scripts, and a feather pen in an ink well and an old fashioned oil lantern. In front of the desk is a waste paper bin.
To the left of the desk is a heater, with black flu pipe and coal scuttle and to the right of it is an old fashioned small desk with bench seat attached.
Far right, front is the white frame of a door, with a brass knocker in the form of a lion’s head hanging in the empty space beneath it. There is also an exit sign. Another white door frame is on the far left of the stage, facing the one on the right. In every corner various props are crammed, including library steps, a holly wreath, green velvet material, (FOR GHOST OF CHRISTMAS) large feather fans and heaps of cloth. There are also the makings of Scrooge’s upright bed; a white sheet with pillow attached, and a patchwork quilt. Among the props is a wheeled chest the top of which opens to reveal cut out food and drink for a Christmas feast.
CAST and COSTUMES
SCROOGE is played by RICHARD CROXFORD.
In his sixties, (at least) tall, with square head, thick dark eyebrows, dark eyes, long nose, white hair, thin lips, he is tall and broad. He first appears in a grey three-piece morning suit, long grey woollen scarf, grey top hat and black shoes. At bed time he wears a blue striped night shirt with white long johns underneath; a matching night cap with a tassel hanging down one side, and a grey dressing gown. He wears short brown boots on his feet.
JENNY COATS is TIM CRATCHIT- she is young, with a narrow oval face, a pointed chin, shoulder length blond hair, fine dark eyebrows, brown eyes, a narrow nose and a small mouth. She is shabbily dressed in a blue beret; a blue jacket over a turquoise blue short waistcoat and blue jeans, ragged at the bottome, with short brown boots. As Tim her left leg is in a calliper, and she leans on a wooden crutch. White trainers, grey wool socks. In the finale to the first Act he wears a wine coloured frock coat, acting the part of Long John Silver.
MOLLY LOGAN- plays BOBBY CRATCHIT, Tim’s mother. She is in her thirties with straight blond hair, pulled back in a bun. She has blue eyes, dark eyebrows, a wide nose and narrow lips. She wears a long mustard coloured skirt, with panniers, at each side, and a russet over-dress. Her shawl is mustard and russet in colour.
As MRS FEZZIWIG she has a hat under which a wild orange wig protrudes and she wears a white robe, bound with navy, with wide sleeves. She also plays
HETTY-the STAGE MANAGER. In this role she wears a white net tutu with a white leotard top under it and black rimmed glasses. Her hair is still in a bun.
There is also a cast of ghosts. Some of these ghosts appear only from framed pictures on the walls, but they are lit and move within these picture frames at points during the action. There is also a company of ghosts who are on the stage and move and react like real live people. The difference is that the real people apart from Tim cannot see them. Theghosts which Scroge becomes aware of are the traditional ones: the Ghosts of Christmas, Past, Present and to come. Scrooge also has insight into his past and the future, from these 3 ghosts so he seems himself as younger and later as dead!
JACOB MARLEY’s ghost, who was SCROOGE’s CO-PRODUCER is played by SEAN KEARNS. This character is solely a projection and is only ever seen on a screen. His head is tied up in a white bandage which goes under his bearded jaw and is knotted on top of his head. He is broad chested, with long legs, a large square head and is middle-aged. When he talks from the picture frame it comes towards the audience and is lowered while in front of his image dangle a number of chains which reach down to the floor and sway from side to side with a clanking noise.
THE COMPANY ( OF GHOST ACTORS)
DARREN FRANKLIN is young with dark eyebrows, rosy cheeks, short dark hair and a small mouth. As ARTHUR he is decked out in Elizabethan costume with a grey cloak attached to his right shoulder, a sleeveless, white doublet, trimmed with grey, with pleats at the waist, over a grey shirt, with frills (known as a ruff) at the neck, and cuffs and wide grey pantaloons, to his knees. His outfit is completed with white stockings, white patent shoes, with silver buckles and tassels. On his head he wears a satin hat, with brim and feathers on the right hand side. As the young man Scrooge, he wears a frock coat in green.
As FRED, Scrooge’s nephew, he sports a mustard yellow top hat, waistcoat and cravat, there’s a stand up collar on his cream shirt, and a green velvet frock coat, brown checked trousers and brown shoes complete his outfit. As Fred he also wears a blue frock coat under which his ghostly costume is visible. When he plays Tim’s sister he walks on his knees and has pretend shoes attached to his knee pads.
MAEVE SMYTH – SAM, FRAN and CHRISTMAS FUTURE
Maeve is a a young slim girl, with her dark blonde hair in a bun. As Sam she wears tight fitting trousers or leggings of grey, trimmed with black lace down the sides reminding one of Regency military uniform. On top she has a short jacket, with epaulettes, over a lace trimmed white blouse. Again the jacket is very like a 19th century soldier’s, with its buttons and epaulettes. She wears white strapped shoes with this outfit.
As FRAN, Scrooge’s sister, she wears a long yellow dress, with green bodice, a yellow bow in front and yellow ribbons in her hair. As Tim’s sister she looks like a child, by walking on her knees and with mock shoes attached to her knee caps. As Christmas Future she stands immobile on the right hand landing draped in aple gree satin.
MAEVE BYRNE- NELL, BELLE, GHOST OF XMAS PRESENT
A plump girl, she first appears in white laced boots, white tights, and grey pleated pantaloons, under a low strapped top, with a looped short grey top and a tight black choker. Her arms are bare.
As Belle she wears a couple of loose robes over her original outfit, one blue, one green. As a teacher wears a mortar board and black gown.
As the ghost of XMAS PRESENT she stands on the first flight of steps, brought in from the left side of the set and a long, green, velvet curtain envelopes her, with some of the other actors underneath. She wears a large wreath of holly, which sparkles in the lights, on her head
JOLENE O’HARA- SCARLET is in her thirties with a slim figure and neat features, She has an oval face, high cheekbones, dark eyebrows and full lips. She is dressed in the 18th Century style with a high grey wig with big ringlets at the sides and back a beauty spot and rouged cheeks. She is always posing. Her dress has a low neckline, tight grey sleeves, with long frill at the elbows and a frilled round neck. There’s a bow on top of the knee length white dress, which is wide at the side, boned and trimmed with grey. Net under the skirt front ensures it sticks out. She has sheer white stockings, and high white heels, trimmed with a bow. When she represents Christmas Past she stands immobile on the top balcony, her own costume concealed by wispy grey/white lacey drapery which hangs over the bannister in front of her. She also takes the aprt of Caroline, Fred’s wide, with a maroon front of dress worn over he own costume, hanging down in the front.
The audio description of this show is brought to you by Sightlines in conjunction with the Mac. You can always check what shows are coming up by checking our website www.nisightlines.co.uk where you can read the programme notes for each show in advance. We hope you will enjoy this Christmas show. Come again.
When the lights go up on the stage we are looking at the empty stage of the old Marley and Scrooge theatre.
At the left front of the stage are long dark red curtains, which are caught up in loops and extend half way across above the stage. Little white lights are hung along the curtains edges.
The floor of the stage is painted with wide rainbow coloured stripes.
At the back is a balcony, supported by pillars, from each side of which open steps descend to a small landing, and then turn down to the floor. The steps are protected by railings on one side and perched atop the railing to the right is a skull. The balcony and stairs are outlined with small white lights. Behind the railed balcony, sparkling ropes hang in front of the wall which is painted in sections of red, yellow, green and blue. Portraits of past actors hang on the walls. From time to time The IMAGES OF these ACTORS ARE PROJECTED AND MOVE. A special light on a stand is on the right of the balcony. Known as the Ghost light it was used to illuminate the trap door which is underneath the balcony, on the square raised area of the stage. Up two steps at each side of the balcony is a door, the one on the left leads to Scrooge’s bedroom.
Downstairs, a tall mirror hanging on the back of a door is illuminated by small lights, centre back, with five small photos above. To the left of the door is a sound machine, wound by a large handle and various implements for creating sound effects sit in front of it on a cluttered table. To the right of the mirror, under the balcony, are costumes hanging on wall hooks, and a rack of hanging clothes, as well as a coat stand, with long coats hanging from it. In front of the clothes, on the raised stage area, is Scrooge’s wide wooden desk, heaped with a stack of yellowing scripts, and a feather pen in an ink well and an old fashioned oil lantern. In front of the desk is a waste paper bin.
To the left of the desk is a heater, with black flu pipe and coal scuttle and to the right of it is an old fashioned small desk with bench seat attached.
Far right, front is the white frame of a door, with a brass knocker in the form of a lion’s head hanging in the empty space beneath it. There is also an exit sign. Another white door frame is on the far left of the stage, facing the one on the right. In every corner various props are crammed, including library steps, a holly wreath, green velvet material, (FOR GHOST OF CHRISTMAS) large feather fans and heaps of cloth. There are also the makings of Scrooge’s upright bed; a white sheet with pillow attached, and a patchwork quilt. Among the props is a wheeled chest the top of which opens to reveal cut out food and drink for a Christmas feast.
CAST and COSTUMES
SCROOGE is played by RICHARD CROXFORD.
In his sixties, (at least) tall, with square head, thick dark eyebrows, dark eyes, long nose, white hair, thin lips, he is tall and broad. He first appears in a grey three-piece morning suit, long grey woollen scarf, grey top hat and black shoes. At bed time he wears a blue striped night shirt with white long johns underneath; a matching night cap with a tassel hanging down one side, and a grey dressing gown. He wears short brown boots on his feet.
JENNY COATS is TIM CRATCHIT- she is young, with a narrow oval face, a pointed chin, shoulder length blond hair, fine dark eyebrows, brown eyes, a narrow nose and a small mouth. She is shabbily dressed in a blue beret; a blue jacket over a turquoise blue short waistcoat and blue jeans, ragged at the bottome, with short brown boots. As Tim her left leg is in a calliper, and she leans on a wooden crutch. White trainers, grey wool socks. In the finale to the first Act he wears a wine coloured frock coat, acting the part of Long John Silver.
MOLLY LOGAN- plays BOBBY CRATCHIT, Tim’s mother. She is in her thirties with straight blond hair, pulled back in a bun. She has blue eyes, dark eyebrows, a wide nose and narrow lips. She wears a long mustard coloured skirt, with panniers, at each side, and a russet over-dress. Her shawl is mustard and russet in colour.
As MRS FEZZIWIG she has a hat under which a wild orange wig protrudes and she wears a white robe, bound with navy, with wide sleeves. She also plays
HETTY-the STAGE MANAGER. In this role she wears a white net tutu with a white leotard top under it and black rimmed glasses. Her hair is still in a bun.
There is also a cast of ghosts. Some of these ghosts appear only from framed pictures on the walls, but they are lit and move within these picture frames at points during the action. There is also a company of ghosts who are on the stage and move and react like real live people. The difference is that the real people apart from Tim cannot see them. Theghosts which Scroge becomes aware of are the traditional ones: the Ghosts of Christmas, Past, Present and to come. Scrooge also has insight into his past and the future, from these 3 ghosts so he seems himself as younger and later as dead!
JACOB MARLEY’s ghost, who was SCROOGE’s CO-PRODUCER is played by SEAN KEARNS. This character is solely a projection and is only ever seen on a screen. His head is tied up in a white bandage which goes under his bearded jaw and is knotted on top of his head. He is broad chested, with long legs, a large square head and is middle-aged. When he talks from the picture frame it comes towards the audience and is lowered while in front of his image dangle a number of chains which reach down to the floor and sway from side to side with a clanking noise.
THE COMPANY ( OF GHOST ACTORS)
DARREN FRANKLIN is young with dark eyebrows, rosy cheeks, short dark hair and a small mouth. As ARTHUR he is decked out in Elizabethan costume with a grey cloak attached to his right shoulder, a sleeveless, white doublet, trimmed with grey, with pleats at the waist, over a grey shirt, with frills (known as a ruff) at the neck, and cuffs and wide grey pantaloons, to his knees. His outfit is completed with white stockings, white patent shoes, with silver buckles and tassels. On his head he wears a satin hat, with brim and feathers on the right hand side. As the young man Scrooge, he wears a frock coat in green.
As FRED, Scrooge’s nephew, he sports a mustard yellow top hat, waistcoat and cravat, there’s a stand up collar on his cream shirt, and a green velvet frock coat, brown checked trousers and brown shoes complete his outfit. As Fred he also wears a blue frock coat under which his ghostly costume is visible. When he plays Tim’s sister he walks on his knees and has pretend shoes attached to his knee pads.
MAEVE SMYTH – SAM, FRAN and CHRISTMAS FUTURE
Maeve is a a young slim girl, with her dark blonde hair in a bun. As Sam she wears tight fitting trousers or leggings of grey, trimmed with black lace down the sides reminding one of Regency military uniform. On top she has a short jacket, with epaulettes, over a lace trimmed white blouse. Again the jacket is very like a 19th century soldier’s, with its buttons and epaulettes. She wears white strapped shoes with this outfit.
As FRAN, Scrooge’s sister, she wears a long yellow dress, with green bodice, a yellow bow in front and yellow ribbons in her hair. As Tim’s sister she looks like a child, by walking on her knees and with mock shoes attached to her knee caps. As Christmas Future she stands immobile on the right hand landing draped in aple gree satin.
MAEVE BYRNE- NELL, BELLE, GHOST OF XMAS PRESENT
A plump girl, she first appears in white laced boots, white tights, and grey pleated pantaloons, under a low strapped top, with a looped short grey top and a tight black choker. Her arms are bare.
As Belle she wears a couple of loose robes over her original outfit, one blue, one green. As a teacher wears a mortar board and black gown.
As the ghost of XMAS PRESENT she stands on the first flight of steps, brought in from the left side of the set and a long, green, velvet curtain envelopes her, with some of the other actors underneath. She wears a large wreath of holly, which sparkles in the lights, on her head
JOLENE O’HARA- SCARLET is in her thirties with a slim figure and neat features, She has an oval face, high cheekbones, dark eyebrows and full lips. She is dressed in the 18th Century style with a high grey wig with big ringlets at the sides and back a beauty spot and rouged cheeks. She is always posing. Her dress has a low neckline, tight grey sleeves, with long frill at the elbows and a frilled round neck. There’s a bow on top of the knee length white dress, which is wide at the side, boned and trimmed with grey. Net under the skirt front ensures it sticks out. She has sheer white stockings, and high white heels, trimmed with a bow. When she represents Christmas Past she stands immobile on the top balcony, her own costume concealed by wispy grey/white lacey drapery which hangs over the bannister in front of her. She also takes the aprt of Caroline, Fred’s wide, with a maroon front of dress worn over he own costume, hanging down in the front.
The audio description of this show is brought to you by Sightlines in conjunction with the Mac. You can always check what shows are coming up by checking our website www.nisightlines.co.uk where you can read the programme notes for each show in advance. We hope you will enjoy this Christmas show. Come again.
