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Humbug High: A Contemporary Christmas Carol

Humbug High: A Contemporary Christmas Carol

adapted by Lindsay Price from Charles Dickens

A new take on the classic Dickens tale! Eddie Scrooge is 17 years old. He hates his parents and his classmates. His only goal in life is to make money and keep his heart ice-cold. He carries his own low temperature always about him and doesn't thaw one degree at Christmas.

He is on his way to becoming a miserly, miserable, tight-fisted hand to the grindstone, until one Christmas season he is taken on a journey by Madge, the lunch lady, and the ghosts of Christmases past, present and future. Scrooge is about to meet the errors of his ways face-to-face.

Comedy Classical Adaptation Holiday

Average Producer Rating:

Recommended for High Schools

Running Time
About 70 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
19 Characters
6 M13 F, Expandable to 11M 20F
Set
Simple Set
Length
63 pages
Production Tips
Read production tips for this play
Free Excerpt

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Performance Royalty Fees

Royalty fees apply to all performances whether or not admission is charged. Any performance in front of an audience (e.g. an invited dress rehearsal) is considered a performance for royalty purposes.

Exemption details for scenes and monologues for competition.

19 Characters
6 M, 13 F, Expandable to 11M 20F

Characters in this play are currently identified as male or female. Directors are welcome to assign any gender (binary or non-binary) to any character and modify pronouns accordingly.

Eddie Scrooge [M] 293 lines
Hates Christmas. Isn’t too fond of ghosts, either. Five monologues.
Leland / Suit Two [M] 70, 7 lines
A lighthearted student at Eddie’s school. Requests the Boiled Pudding speech. One monologue. / Talks about Eddie’s death.
Jonathan / Suit Three [M] 40, 4 lines
Wonders where Eddie’s Christmas spirit is. / Talks about Eddie’s death.
Nathan / Robber [M] 29, 4 lines
Eddie’s father. / Robs Eddie’s house after his death.
Young Eddie / Ignorance / Pawnbroker [M] 42, 0, 7 lines
Eddie, before he hardened his heart to those around him. / A ghost. / Pawns Eddie’s things.
Ghost of Christmas Present [M] 61 lines
There to spread a little joy.
Narrator [F] 55 lines
Everything a Dickens narrator should be. May attempt Limbo before the play is over. Four monologues.
Grace / Suit Four [F] 35, 3 lines
A student in Eddie’s school. / Talks about Eddie’s death.
Benita / Worker Two [F] 39, 3 lines
A student in Eddie’s school. / Talks about Eddie’s death.
Suzanne [F] 57 lines
A student in Eddie’s school.
Cindy [F] 60 lines
Raising money for the school charity drive.
Bonnie [F] 70 lines
Mother of Lynne and Tina.
Madge [F] 27 lines
Ghost. The first of many.
Ghost of Christmas Past [F] 47 lines
There to show Eddie the shadows of things that have been.
Debbie / Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come [F] 30, 0 lines
Eddie’s mom. / There are nice ghosts and spooky ghosts. Not a nice ghost.
Lynn / Suit One [F] 30, 7 lines
Bonnie’s daughter. / Talks about Eddie’s death.
Tina / Maid [F] 18, 8 lines
Lynne’s younger sister. Has cerebral palsy. / Gossips with the Pawnbroker.
Mrs. Farnsworth / Landlord [F] 21, 8 lines
The Drama teacher. / Evicts Bonnie and family.
Want / Worker One [F] 0, 4 lines
A ghost. / Talks about Eddie’s death.

Praise for Humbug High: A Contemporary Christmas Carol

Attila Samu
Salem High School
The kids enjoyed doing the show.
Alex
Saint Theresa of Lisieux
Excellent play with substantial roles for multiple characters. My students had an excellent time bringing this to stage. It had many dramatic and reflective moments, coupled with some real comedic breaks which was a great balance for our audience. A great way to celebrate the holidays with your drama program AND school community.
Joseph Kaufenberg
Northeast Range
It was a tremendous experience watching these young actors bring these characters to life. It was quite honestly one of the most satisfying shows I have ever directed.

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