Viewing the past, present and future through the miserly eyes of Scrooge

Fullerton College Hornet  - Amanda Glover - Wednesday, December 1st, 1999

A classical festive adventure instills the Christmas spirit within many as 'A Christmas Carol: Scrooge and Marley, The Magical Family Musical,' graces FC's Campus Theatre Dec. 3-5.

The typical Christmas Carol tale is re-enacted as Scrooge converses with several ghosts who haunt and enlighten him throughout an adventurous night.

This same production has been successfully performed in the past which sparked the idea of its return.

"We are-really happy to make this show an annual event, and it's fun to find ways to make it even bigger and better than the previous year," said director and Theatre Arts faculty member Patricia Scarborough.

A London-town Street Faire will be held out front of the theatre to create original pre-show entertainment for audience members. Musicians, jugglers, carolers and magicians will be a part of the attraction.

"We are recreating the Victorian London traditions of Dickens' time," Scarborough explains. "The whole experience will be like a step back in time."

Such a cold-hearted man who hated Christmas passionately relied on other characters of fantasy to open his eyes. It was then that his miserly attitude and lonely personality could be viewed.

Jacob Marley, an old business partner of Scrooge pays a ghostly visit in the night. Shackled in chains symbolized how such bitterness and greed can restrain a person even after death.

Marley permanently resides with chains weighing him down, as his suffering continues, because he lacked compassion for others.

A fair warning can hopefully scare Scrooge into reality and out of the cold cruel world he created for himself.

The Ghost of Christmas Past soon follows to remind Scrooge of his pleasant childhood experiences. Soon after, the Ghost of Christmas Present visits to show the realities surrounding Scrooge and the less fortunate who need his help.

The Ghost of Christmas Future illustrates Scrooge's lonely life and what Scrooge may have ahead of himself if he does not change his angry feelings and-selfish actions.

"Charles Dickens gave us all a wonderful-Christmas present with this story," Scarborough says. 'Scrooge and Marley' can give people a taste of what great writers from ages past can do.