Admit it: There’s a piece of Scrooge in all of us. The part that works too hard at the expense of our families — and expects the same of others. That resigns ourselves to the inevitability of the coming holiday season, with all its gross consumer contradictions, before begrudgingly giving over to the greater spirit of the season.
“There are reasons to hate Christmas,” said local actor Leroy Leonard, who plays the world’s most famous curmudgeon in the Victorian Playhouse’s “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol.” “It arrives in stores before Halloween; inane traditions grow on it like mildew; the economic frenzy withers us; the unrealistic obligation to feel joy actually nurtures suicide.
“Wouldn’t a night of unbroken rest be more conducive to our well-being than Christmas?”
Bah humbug! you say.
And yet, who among us doesn’t secretly root for the Scrooges of the business world to step up and put the world back to work — even if it creates a compliant workforce of Bob Cratchits and other perpetual victims who are grateful just to have a job?
“That’s the foundation of our capitalist society — and to ruinous results in various parts of the world, including our own, because of mismanagement and greed,” said Philip Pleasants, who has been playing Scrooge in the Denver Center Theatre Company’s “A Christmas Carol” since 2005.
Scrooge is the personification of greed in the world — yet through his conversion, we have looked to him to lead us through the darkness of the past 177 winter solstices to our own spiritual renewals.
It seems we never … ever … tire of “A Christmas Carol.” Why, there are seven variations of it playing on Colorado stages this season alone, from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs.
“The world certainly loves a convert — especially if the conversion is to that particular group’s point of view,” said Joseph Dellger, Scrooge in the Arvada Center’s “A Christmas Carol, the Musical.” Do we need them? Yes, we do — especially if they actually convert!
“They serve as a reminder there is still hope for us all when those we consider beyond redemption turn out not to be.”
JOHN MOORE’s Q&As WITH FIVE AREA SCROOGES
Bob Buckley, Colorado Shakespeare Festival
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Does Scrooge get a bad rap? He does, because he was born with the unfortunate circumstance that his name signifies his character. Had he been born a Smith, a Bush or a Madoff — no one would have remembered him!
Who’s the most recognizable Scrooge in the world today? The Tea Party. A converted Scrooge would advise them: “Listen to the voices in your dreams, not your delusions.”
What would cynical Scrooge say is the way out of our economic crisis? Renew the Bush Tax cuts.
And what would a converted Scrooge say? “Tax the rich until their eyes bleed, and their flabby wallets clap with emptiness in the hard London breeze.”
If you had got to rewrite Scrooge’s final line, what would you have him say? Sorry, I have to bail on this one. In going over Scrooge’s last line, I find it a pretty good one and could not presume to better it.
“A Christmas Carol” plays Dec. 2-24, 303-492-0554
Philip Pleasants, Denver Center Theatre Company
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What would cynical Scrooge say is the way out of our economic crisis? “Two percent of the richest citizens insisting on keeping the Bush tax cuts in place.”
And what would a converted Scrooge say? “Two percent of the richest citizens insisting the Bush tax cuts be repealed!”
If you had got to rewrite Scrooge’s final line, what would you have him say? “May ALL the Gods, people are wont to pray to, bless us everyone.”
“A Christmas Carol” plays Dec. 2-24, 303-893-4100
Joseph Dellger, Arvada Center
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Does Scrooge get a bad rap? Scrooges serve as a reminder to us all that there is still hope for us all, when the people we consider beyond redemption turn out not to be.
Who’s the most recognizable Scrooge in the world today? CEOs like William S. White of the Mott’s apple company, who is insisting that workers take huge cuts in pay and benefits, not because Mott’s is having economic trouble — they’re doing quite well, they say — but because they don’t think their workers are worth it, and know they can.
What would cynical Scrooge say is the way out of our economic crisis? He’d say only strict adherence to sound business practices, utterly devoid of emotion, generosity, consideration or, God forbid, kindness, is the sure way to economic gain.
And what would a converted Scrooge say? He’d say cold-hearted financial practices that focus solely on the bottom line will keep the wealthy enjoying the finest while the poor slide further into grinding poverty. He’d say the only way for all of us to find our way to a better life is to take care of one another through financial policies and practices that put human need and fairness over profits. He’d say capitalism without conscience creates a society similar to what we have now, one where those who have are rewarded and those who have not are punished.
If you got to rewrite Scrooge’s final line, what would you have him say? “Everyone go to the lobby, and donate to the arts.”
“A Christmas Carol, the Musical” plays Nov. 23-Dec. 23, 720-898-7200
Ken Benda, OpenStage & Company, Fort Collins
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Does Scrooge get a bad rap? I think everyone has a little of Scrooge in them. The holiday pressures of the modern mercantile Christmas can distract a person from the true riches of the season. It’s good to be reminded from time to time.
Who’s the most recognizable Scrooge in the world today? It’s a tie between British Petroleum and subprime lending institutions. All that damage and pain for the sake of the bottom line! I think a converted Scrooge might say to them: “The shadow comes to all men — and the time is short!”
What would cynical Scrooge say is the way out of our economic crisis? He might say, “What crisis? I’ve got plenty of coins in my safe.”
And what would a converted Scrooge say? “Give of yourself as much as you can.”
If you had to/got to rewrite Scrooge’s final line, what would you have him say? “Bob Cratchit, from now on . . . the eggnog’s on me!”
“Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” plays Nov. 19-Dec. 19, 970-221-6730
Leroy Leonard, Denver Victorian Playhouse
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Who’s the most recognizable Scrooge in the world today? Joseph Cassano, whose rapacious credit default swaps netted him and AIG billions of dollars while spinning the rest of the world into economic crisis. A converted Scrooge would say: “Give it back!”
What would cynical Scrooge say is the way out of our economic crisis? “Buy a new safe — and keep the damn thing locked!”
And what would a converted Scrooge say? “You look a bit down . . . how about a hug?”
If you had to/got to rewrite Scrooge’s final line, what would you have him say? “Tiny Tim, I’d you to meet Little Cindy Loo Who. I have a feeling about the two of you.”
“Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” plays through Dec. 19, 303-433-4343
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
A RUNDOWN OF ALL HOLIDAY STAGE OFFERINGS IN COLORADO
Musicals
“A Christmas Carol”
Nov. 23-Dec. 23 at the Arvada Center, 720-898-7200
Dec. 2-24, Denver Center Theatre Company, Stage Theatre, 303-893-4100
“Irving Berlin’s White Christmas”
Now through Dec. 26 at the Town Hall Arts Center, Littleton, 303-794-2787
Nov. 19-Jan. 1 at the Carousel Dinner Theatre, Fort Collins, 970-225-2555
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas: A USO Show”
Now through Dec. 31 at the Heritage Square Music Hall, Golden, 303-279-7800
“2010 Holiday Extravaganza Revue”
Nov. 26-Dec. 22 at Iron Springs Chateau, Manitou Springs, 719-685-5104
“Scrooge”
Dec. 13-30 at Jesters Dinner Theatre, Longmont, 303-682-9980
Traditional plays
“A Christmas Carol”
Dec. 2-24 by the Colorado Shakespeare Festival at the University of Colorado- Boulder mainstage theater, 303-492-0554
Dec. 17-19 by the Evergreen Players, 303-674-4934
“A Child’s Christmas in Wales”
Now through Dec 22 at the Miners Alley Playhouse, Golden, 303-935-3044
“Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol”
Now through Dec. 19 at the Victorian Playhouse, 303-433-4343
Nov. 19-Dec. 19 by OpenStage at Art Lab : Gallery, Fort Collins, 970-221-6730
For children and families
“Red Ranger Came Calling: A Guaranteed True Christmas Story”
Nov. 26-Dec. 19 at the Aurora Fox, 303-739-1970
“A Christmas Story”
Dec. 10-19 by the Longmont Theatre Company, 303-772-5200
“Inspecting Carol”
Nov. 27-Dec. 18 by Spotlight Theatre at the John Hand Theatre, 720-880-8727
“A Tuna Christmas”
Nov. 19-Dec. 30 at Backstage Theatre, Breckenridge, 970-453-0199
Dec. 17-30 at the Crested Butte Mountain Theatre, 970-349-0366
“P.S., Merry Christmas”
Nov. 26-Dec. 12 at the Arvada Festival Playhouse, 303-422-4090
“Have a Holly, Jolly Murder”
Nov. 28-Dec. 19 by the Denver Broker Restaurant Mystery Dinner Theatre, 303-292-5065
Devilish adult comedies
“Reckless”
Now through Dec. 18 by the Denver Center Theatre Company at the Space Theatre, 303-893-4100
“Santa’s Big Red Sack”
Nov. 26-Dec. 26 by Rattlebrain Comedy at the Avenue Theater, 303-321-5925
“Who Killed Santa?”
Nov. 26-Dec. 26 at the Dangerous Theatre, 720-233-4703
“The SantaLand Diaries”
Dec. 1-23 by Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company at the Dairy Center, 303-440-7826
“Balls! A Holiday Spectacular”
Dec. 9-18 by Balls to the Wall Productions at Curious Theatre, 303-927-0087
Western-themed
“To Colorado on a Christmas Night”
Dec. 2-19 by Su Teatro at the Denver Civic Theatre, 303-296-0219
“A Cowboy Christmas Carol”
Dec. 9-24 at TheatreWorks, Colorado Springs, 719-255-3232
“Angel of the Christmas Mine”
Nov. 26-Dec. 31 at Thin Air Theatre, Cripple Creek, 719-235-8944
Readings
“A Very Dark Holiday Playwright Festivus”
Dec. 21-31, one-act plays by Colorado playwrights by Vintage Theatre, 303-839-1361
“The Holiday Spirit”
Dec. 11 by Colorado Homegrown Tales at the Byers-Evans House
“Making Merry”
Dec. 12 by Stories on Stage at the Stage Theatre in the Denver Performing Arts Complex
Complete theater listings
Go to our complete list of in Colorado, including summaries, run dates, addresses, phones and links to every company’s home page. Or check out our listings or
