November 29, 2005 > Irvington High School presents 'A Christmas Carol'

by Heidi Leung

"A Christmas Carol" tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his life-altering supernatural encounter on Christmas Eve. Scrooge, a cheap and selfish man, cares nothing for others only money, using intimidation as a way to get it. Particularly, he hates Christmas because he views it as a day when "you find yourself a year older and not an hour richer." "Bah!" "Humbug!" On Christmas Eve, as he is about to go to bed, his old business partner, Jacob Marley, who died seven years ago, pays him a visit. Marley, much like Scrooge when he was living, is condemned in death to wander through the world dragging a heavy chain that he forged in life, link by link, yard by yard, made of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel. Marley tells Scrooge of the length and weight of the strong coil that he himself bears. "It was full as heavy and as long as this, seven Christmas Eves ago. You have labored on it, since. It is a ponderous chain!"

Marley, hoping to help Scrooge escape his fate, tells Scrooge that Three Spirits will visit him: The ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet To Come. The Three Spirits show up as promised and take Scrooge on a journey through his life illuminating his past and the consequences of his actions. Through the agonizing night, he gradually learns the error of his ways and vows, "I am not the man I was." And he realizes "...the Time before him was his own, to make amends in!" Morning arrives and Scrooge learns it is Christmas Day...he has not missed it. We watch Scrooge visit his abused employee Bob Cratchitt and his son, Tiny Tim then spend Christmas with Scrooge's nephew whose invitation he earlier rejected. In the end, Dickens reports, "Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more...he became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew."

A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens adapted by Michael Pallar
December 2, 3, 9 & 10 at 7 p.m.
December 4 & 11 at 2 p.m.

Irvington High School
Valhalla Theater
41800 Blacow Rd., Fremont
(510) 656-5711 EXT. 46456

Tickets: $10 General Admission, $8 Senior, ASB Card & Children 12 and under