''A Christmas Carol; or, Past, Present, and Future'' is a play in three acts (or ‘Staves’) by Edward Stirling which opened at the

Adelphi Theatre The Adelphi Theatre is a West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster, central London. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiv ...

in London on 5 February 1844.Playbill advertising Edward Stirling's adaptation of ''A Christmas Carol''
Collection of the

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Containing songs especially written for the show, the drama was adapted from the novella ''

A Christmas Carol ''A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas'', commonly known as ''A Christmas Carol'', is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech. It recounts the ...

'' by

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and Social criticism, social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by ...

which had been published just weeks before in December 1843. By February 1844 eight other adaptations had already appeared on the London stage, including ''A Christmas Carol, or, the Miser's Warning!'' by C. Z. Barnett, which had opened at the

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in February 1844.''A Christmas Carol, or, the Miser's Warning!''

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eBook Stirling's version, however, was the only production to be sanctioned by Dickens, who gave permission for the adaptation in January 1844. Later, in his memoirs, Stirling wrote that Dickens came to several rehearsals during which he made 'valuable suggestions'. Dickens stated in his letters that he went to the Adelphi to see the production but had mixed feelings about it. Stirling revived his production in 1859.Playbill for 'A Christmas Carol', Theatre Royal Adelphi, 1844
Collection of the

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Two woodcuts of scenes from the production, drawing heavily on the original illustrations by John Leech, were published in ''

The Illustrated London News ''The Illustrated London News'', founded by Herbert Ingram and first published on Saturday 14 May 1842, was the world's first illustrated weekly news magazine. The magazine was published weekly for most of its existence, switched to a less freq ...

'' on 17 February 1844.Scene from ''The Christmas Carol'' at the Adelphi Theatre, ''

'', Saturday, 17 February 1844, p. 109 The critic of ''The Illustrated London News'' wrote of the production:

We have already given a slight sketch of this happy dramatic adaptation from Dickens's admirable "romance of real life;" we will now proceed to illustrate it, more through the graphical agency of our artist than by anything we could ourselves indite. Of the production itself, from which the theatrical representation has emanated, we have nothing to say, but "plaudits" from beginning to end: it exhibits the author not only as a caricaturist, but a philanthropist, a satirist, and, unlike the censors of old, a moralist. Neither Horace, Juvenal, nor Persius, could "touch the pitch" they wanted to make appear more black, "without defiling their own fingers," but Dickens is never corrupted by his subject; he stands aloof and "shoots Vice as well as Folly" when it obtrudes itself upon his universal surveillance, with-- An arrow shot by Virtue--barb'd by Wit.

A review of 10 February 1844, again in ''

'', stated:

Dickens is a great man — a moral chemist who has analyzed the human heart to a nicety. "Shewing the poison and the honey there." His "Christmas Carol; or Past, Present, and Future," dramatised by Mr. Stirling in a most sterling manner, from the prose story of the modern Fielding, was produced on last Monday with most decided success. The acting of O. Smith, as old Scrooge, the miser, was, throughout, admirable. Wright as Bob Cratchit, the miser's clerk, presiding over his family party, was exceedingly droll. The story on which the piece is founded is too well known to enter into particulars of it: suffice it to say, that it is one of those home-bred, natural esculents that a true dramatic palate likes to enjoy, and as such, from its enthusiastic reception, will no doubt be universally relished, and ought to correct and improve the taste of those who fly to the Continent ** for what can be so abundantly supplied at home.Review
in ''
The Illustrated London News ''The Illustrated London News'', founded by Herbert Ingram and first published on Saturday 14 May 1842, was the world's first illustrated weekly news magazine. The magazine was published weekly for most of its existence, switched to a less freq ...
'', 10 February 1844,
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Synopsis

Miserly

Ebenezer Scrooge Ebenezer Scrooge () is a fictional character and the protagonist of Charles Dickens's 1843 novel, ''A Christmas Carol''. Initially a cold-hearted miser who despises Christmas, his redemption by visits from the ghost of Jacob Marley, the G ...

is a harsh master to his clerk,

Bob Cratchit Robert "Bob" Cratchit is a fictional character in the Charles Dickens 1843 novel ''A Christmas Carol''. The overworked, underpaid clerk of Ebenezer Scrooge, Cratchit has come to symbolise the poor working conditions, especially long working hou ...

. Uncaring and unfeeling, Scrooge lives a cold and solitary life mocking those who celebrate Christmas, including his nephew, Fred. On the evening of

Christmas Eve Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas, the festival commemorating nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus. Christmas Day is observance of Christmas by country, observed around the world, and Christma ...

Scrooge gets a visit from his long-dead partner,

Jacob Marley Jacob Marley is a fictional character in Charles Dickens's 1843 novella ''A Christmas Carol''. Marley has died seven years ago, and was a former business partner of the miser Ebenezer Scrooge, the novella's protagonist.Hawes, Donal''Who's Who i ...

, who warns him he is on the path to destruction. But visits from three Christmas Spirits may save him from that hellish fate.

Scenes

Stave the First — The First of the Three Spirits

*Chamber of Scrooge the Miser *A Child's Story Book *Home for the Holidays *Fezziwig's Ball

Stave the Second — The Second of the Three Spirits

*Scrooge's Chamber - The Dream *Clare Market by Gaslight *Christmas Eve *Bob Cratchit's, Camden Town *Christmas Dinner *The Lighthouse and Open Sea.

Stave the Third — The Last of the Spirits

*The Desolate Churchyard *The Miser's Grave *Scrooge's Home - the Carol *General Invitation to Everybody, and Tiny Tim's Blessing on us All

Cast (1844)

Stave the First — The First of the Three Spirits

, (the Money Lender—a Christmas Hater- a name only GOOD upon ‘Change) - Mr. O. Smith * Mister

... (a Poor Clerk with Fifteen Shillings a Week and Six Children) ...

Edward Richard Wright Edward Richard Wright (c. 1813–21 December 1859) was an English comedian and actor. Life He was one of at least five children born to Elizabeth and Francis Wright, whose profession was listed as "Gent", of Sloane Square in London. He was init ...

* The Ghost of Old

(Dead as a Door Nail) Mr. R. Hughes *

Mr. Fezziwig Old Fezziwig is a character from the 1843 novella ''A Christmas Carol'' created by Charles Dickens to provide contrast with Ebenezer Scrooge's attitudes towards business ethics. Scrooge was apprenticed under Fezziwig. Despite this, the older Scroo ...

(a London Trader — “one vast substantial smile” — oily, rich and jovial) .. Mr. Stephen Smith * Dr. Dilworth .. (a Pedagogue) .. Mr. Johnson * Master Scrooge .. (a School Boy) .. Master Lightfoot * Young Scrooge and Dick Wilkins (Fellow Apprentices) .. Mr. George R. Braid and Mr Leslie * The Dirty Little Boy from over the Way .. Master Mouncer * Post Boy .. Mr. Honey * Fiddler .. Mr. Shaw * Mrs. Fezziwig (Beaming and Lovable) .. Mrs. Woollidge * Bella Morton (Scrooge's first, his only love, save gold) .. Miss Sarah Jane Woolgar * The

Ghost of Christmas Past The Ghost of Christmas Past is a fictional character in Charles Dickens' 1843 novella ''A Christmas Carol''. The Ghost is one of three spirits that appear to miser Ebenezer Scrooge to offer him a chance of redemption. Following a visit from t ...

(“it was a Strange Figure — like a Child”) .. Miss Ellen Chaplin * Little Fan (Scrooge's Sister) .. Miss Mott * Mary, the Tenant — Sally, the Cook — their Friends, Neighbours, &c

Stave the Second — The Second of the Three Spirits

* Nephew Fred .. Mr. George Maynard * Master Peter Cratchit .. Master Brunton * Master Tom Cratchit.. Master Scott * Sea Captain .. Mr. Jones * Tiny Tim (“alas poor Tiny Tim — he bore a little crutch, & had his limbs supported by an iron frame”) .. Miss Maynard * Ignorance .. Mr. Crane * Want .. Mr. Holmes * Mariners .. Messrs. Rough & Rains * Butchers, Grocers, Ballad Singers, Passengers, Watchmen, Small Purchasers, Visitors, &c * Mrs. Bob Cratchit (Wife to Mr. Bob — “dressed out but poorly in a twice turned gown, but brave in ribbons”) .. Mrs. Frank Matthews * Martha Cratchit .. Miss Lee * Belinda Cratchit .. Miss O. Hicks * Sally Cratchit .. Miss Johnson * The

Ghost of Christmas Present The Ghost of Christmas Present is a fictional character in Charles Dickens' 1843 novella ''A Christmas Carol''. The Ghost is one of three spirits that appear to miser Ebenezer Scrooge to offer him a chance of Redemption (theology), redemption. ...

.. Mr. Forman

Stave the Third —- The Last of the Spirits

* Old Joe (a Receiver of Stolen Goods — “a grey-haired rascal nearly 70 years of age”) .. Mr. Sanders * Mr. Topper and Mr. Floss (Worldly Friends of Old Scrooge) .. Mr. Aldridge and Mr. Freeborn * Mr. Blink (an Undertaker's Man) .. Mr. Honey * Mrs. Dibler (a Laundress) .. Mrs. Woollidge * Mrs. Fred .. Miss Butler * Sally (a Nurse) .. Miss Wilshire * Spirit of the Future (a Solemn Phantom, dressed & hooded, coming like a Mist along the ground) .. Mrs. David Lee

Cast (1859)

*Ebenezer Scrooge ..

Charles Selby Charles Selby (c. 1802 – 1863) was a 19th-century English actor and playwright, and translator of many French plays (often without attribution, not uncommon at the time). Among his works was ''The Marble Heart'' (1854), a translation of Théo ...

*Mister Bob Cratchit .. J. L. Toole *Nephew Fred .. John Billington *The Ghost of Old Jacob Marley .. Thomas Stuart *Mr. Fezziwig .. Christopher J. Smith *Dr. Dilworth .. Robert Romer *Master Scrooge .. Master Page *Young Scrooge and Dick Wilkins .. William H. Eburne and Mr. Howard *The Dirty Little Boy from over the Way .. Master George Lupino *Fiddler .. Mr. Buckle *Bella Morton .. Adeline Billington *Little Fan .. Miss Morris *Mrs. Fezziwig ..

Louisa Chatterley Louisa Chatterley or Louisa Place born Louisa Simeon (1797 – 4 November 1866) was a British actress. She was involved in an embezzlement case, and later married a noted social reformer with fifteen children. Life Louisa Simeon was born in Piccad ...

*The Ghost of Christmas Past .. Kate Kelly *Master Tom Cratchit .. Master Craddock *Master Peter Cratchit .. Miss Stoker *Tiny Tim .. Miss Hamilton *Ignorance - Vision of Doom .. Master Power *Want - Vision of Doom .. Master Jones *Mariners .. Messrs. Dry & Sims *Mr. Topper and Mr. Floss .. William H. Eburne and Mr. Aldridge *Old Joe .. Robert Romer *Mr. Blink .. A. Powell *Mrs. Bob Cratchit .. Sarah Jane Mellon (née Woolgar) *Martha Cratchit .. Miss Hayman *Belinda Cratchit .. Miss Craddock *Sally Cratchit .. Miss Taylor *The Ghost of Christmas Present .. Paul Bedford *Sally .. Miss Aldridge *Spirit of the Future .. Mr. Johnson *Mrs. Fred .. Mrs. Laidlaw *Mrs. Dibler .. Mrs. Stoker

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Christmas Carol or, Past, Present, and Future, A Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol 1844 plays Plays based on novels Plays based on works by Charles Dickens Works based on A Christmas Carol Plays based on A Christmas Carol