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Since the publication in 1843 of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol there have been countless adaptations of this classic novella. Within one year of the publication there were at least 7 stage adaptations in London alone. In the last 165 years, adaptations have included film, television, ballet, opera, a mime production with Marcel Marceau and an all black cast Broadway production in 1979 called Comin’ Uptown. At present, many theatre companies across the United States present stage productions of this timeless classic to sold-out houses each year.
What is it about this story that is so appealing to so many people? There can be no question the story is one of redemption and second chances. This theme is certainly universal as all of us are prone to mistakes, bad behavior, or thinking too much of ourselves instead of focusing on the needs of humanity. The despicable social and economic conditions presented in Dickens “Carol” provides a very clear and distinct vision of the ills of a self-centered society. Unregulated child labor, debtors prisons and an avaricious industrial complex all combined to create an oppressive culture of “haves and have nots.” Ebenezer Scrooge is presented as a man who has amassed a fortune at the expense of others and who does not even have the capacity to make himself comfortable with his wealth. He is a stubborn, self-centered man with little to no self awareness.
In modern day America we no longer have child labor or debtors prisons but there can be no question, based on recent economic events, that we have plenty of greed driven businesses (and the people who run them) who continue to foster a “have and have not” culture. Perhaps we could encourage a few of the Wall Street Barons to catch a production of A Christmas Carol this season with the hopes that some of them might be transformed by the moral message the story conveys. Perhaps we might even convince a few of them to take the multi-million dollar bonuses and create a few new foundations that would benefit society. Perhaps.
For most of us, however, attending a production of A Christmas Carol each season reaffirms our faith in humanity and reminds us that change is always possible, no matter how old or set in our ways we may become. This feeling of hope is a central theme of Christmas holidays across the world and we need to be reminded, less we take our situation too seriously and fall into despair. Dickens himself was a product of child labor, debtors prison and the squalor and degradation of his time. He managed to rise out of the oppression from his own rough start at life, he chose to create literature that would inspire and offer hope to millions who would follow. For that we should all be grateful.
To honor this tradition, The Clarence Brown Theatre will offer for the fourth year the Edward Morgan, Joseph Hanreddy adaptation of A Christmas Carol. For the past three years, the CBT production, with it’s amazing sets, lights, costumes and special effects (including flying ghosts), has been made its way into the hearts of many Knoxvillians creating a wonderful new (and old) tradition to look forward to each year.
The University of Tennessee | College of Arts & Sciences | UTK Theatre Department | Knoxville, Tennessee 37996 | 865-974-5161
