A Christmas Carol at A Noise Within

On A frigid Christmas Eve night, a miserly old man named Ebenezer Scrooge sits in his counting house, keeping an eye on his clerk, Bob Cratchit. The stingy Scrooge refuses to spend money on heating coals, so poor Cratchit shivers in the dim room. Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, drops by and wishes him a Merry Christmas, though Scrooge replies with a bitter “Bah! Humbug!” Later, two gentlemen enter his office and ask him to donate money for a fund that will feed the hungry. Scrooge feels no pity for the plight of those less fortunate and promptly dismisses the gentlemen. At closing time, Scrooge reluctantly gives Cratchit the day off for Christmas.

Scrooge returns home, where he lives in a house that belongs to his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley. Late at night, the sound of dragging, metal chains announces the arrival of The Ghost of Jacob Marley. Marley has a grave message for Scrooge. Because Marley lived a greedy and selfish life, his ghost now wanders the Earth in heavy chains as punishment. He hopes he can help Scrooge avoid the same fate. He tells Scrooge that three spirits will visit him, with the first arriving when the bell tolls one.

As promised, the Ghost of Christmas Past arrives, leading Scrooge on a journey to the Christmases of his childhood. He sees himself as a lonely child, an apprentice to Fezziwig the merchant, and as a young man who loses his sweetheart Belle’s love to his greed. Tortured, Scrooge begs the ghost to take him home.

The Ghost of Christmas Present takes Scrooge through London to unveil the Christmas holiday as it will unfold that year. Scrooge watches the large and bustling Cratchit family prepare a miniature feast in their meager home. He discovers Bob Cratchit’s crippled son, Tiny Tim, a courageous boy whose kindness and humility warms Scrooge’s heart. The specter then whisks Scrooge to his nephew Fred’s house to witness their Christmas party. Scrooge finds the jovial gathering delightful and pleads with the spirit to stay until the very end of the festivities. As the day progresses, the spirit ages, and we
see a noticeably older ghost. Prior to his departure, the ghost reveals to Scrooge two starved children, Ignorance and Want, living under his coat. He vanishes instantly as Scrooge notices a dark and hooded figure approaching.

The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come, the spirit Scrooge fears most of all, leads Scrooge through a sequence of mysterious scenes relating to an unnamed man’s recent death. Scrooge sees businessmen discussing the dead man’s riches, some thieves pawning his personal effects for cash. Scrooge, anxious to learn the lesson of his latest visitor, begs to know the name of the dead man. After pleading with the ghost, Scrooge finds himself in a churchyard, the spirit pointing to a grave. Scrooge looks at the headstone and is shocked to read his own name. He desperately implores the spirit to alter his fate, promising to renounce his insensitive, avaricious ways and to honor the Christmas spirit. He suddenly finds himself safely tucked in his bed.

Overwhelmed with joy at the chance to redeem himself, and grateful that he has been returned to Christmas day, Scrooge rushes out onto the street hoping to share his newfound Christmas spirit. He sends a giant Christmas turkey to the Cratchit house and attends Fred’s party, to the stifled surprise of the other guests. As the years go by, he holds true to his promise and honors Christmas with all his heart: he treats Tiny Tim as if he were his own child, provides gifts to the
poor, and treats his fellow human beings with kindness, generosity, and warmth.

Ages: Recommended for ages 7 & up