What if Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol turned stingy and mean again? What if he charged the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Future with kidnapping, breaking and entering, attempted murder, and theft in a court of law? What if Scrooge was his own attorney in the trial?
The Port Tobacco Players’ The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge hilariously explores these questions. This show serves up laughter more delicious than any holiday dessert.
Randy Tusing’s Ebenezer Scrooge was at turns pompous, cold, and downright mean. His face was a study in acrimony and rudeness. He strutted around the courtroom like an angry rooster. He verbally sparred with the judge and anyone else within earshot.
Anthony Dieguez played opposing lawyer Solomon Rothschild with panache. He milked the simplest of lines for all their comical worth. His character could best be described as officious and overly self-important. Dieguez made Rothschild’s legal arguments into grand and pompous speeches.
Michael Beryle Jr. delighted the audience as Mr. Connolly, The Bailiff. Beryle interacted with the audience pre-show as he swept the courtroom floor. His jokes and asides during the trial fueled laughter throughout.
Playing the stern Judge Pearson, Kim Bessler took no prisoners. With her zingers and overall meanness, TV’s Judge Judy had nothing on her.
Christian Scott expertly played Jacob Marley and Bob Cratchit. He turned the tragic figure of Marley into a buffoonish blowhard and Bob Cratchit into a whiner about the “one piece of coal” Scrooge allowed him in the office stove. Scott was a crowd pleaser; he received an in-performance ovation.
Christmas Future and Scrooge’s nephew Fred were played by Jayden Holmes. He excelled as Christmas Future, who could only communicate through howling. Alison Dodges played his court translator. Dodges was also busy as Mrs. Cratchit, Ms. Wainwright, and Mrs. Dilber.
The characters Fan, Belle, and Christmas Past were played by Ashlyn Milstead. She gave Christmas Past a ridiculous falsetto voice that had the audience chuckling.
Foster Apple had a cameo role during the intermission as the jolly Ghost of Christmas Present. This is Apple’s second Port Tobacco Players show.
Director Paul Morris chose to make the play interactive. He had some actors enter the stage from the lobby. When Bessler commanded the characters in her character’s courtroom to “All rise,” most of the audience rose. Morris wrote: “I wanted to put the actors right in your face, as downstage as I could get away with… I needed to pull the audience into the courtroom so you could feel the intensity of the moment.”
Morris used extensive blackouts to sneak actors on stage. As the play went on, he used the blackouts to good comic effect as the “wrong” character would appear on stage in the witness chair.
Quentin Nash Sagers’ costume design impressed me with the period costumes she put Dieguez and Beryle in. She gave Milstead a white ghost costume that featured Christmas lights in the fringe of its hood. Sagers had help from the costume crew: Erica Borgers and Janice Nash Sagers.
Chris Magee’s set design featured impressive dark wooden paneling. Bessler sat a good 20 feet in the air on her judge’s bench.
This show “puts Dickens’ entire concept of ‘the Christmas spirit’ under the microscope, forcing us to reexamine Scrooge and his ‘bah humbug’ ways,” Morris wrote. Lovers of Dickens’ dialogue will recognize famous quotes such as “Many thousands are in want of common necessities.” The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge is a splendid evening of comedy for the whole family. So come “make merry” and enjoy it.
Running Time: Approximately two hours, with a 15-minute intermission.
The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge plays through December 15, 2024, at Port Tobacco Players, 508 Charles Street, La Plata, MD. Tickets ($15–$18) can be purchased online.
COVID Safety: For all performances, masks are suggested but not required.
The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge
By Mark Brown
CAST
Ebenezer Scrooge: Randy Tusing
Solomon Rothschild: Anthony Dieguez
Jacob Marley / Bob Cratchit: Christian Scott
Fred / Christmas Future: Jayden Holmes
Fan / Belle / Christmas Past: Ashlyn Milstead
Mrs. Cratchit / Ms. Wainwright / Mrs. Dilber / Translator: Alison Dodges
Judge Pearson: Kim Bessler
Mr. Connolly, The Bailiff: Michael Beryle Jr.
Christmas Present: Foster Apple
CREATIVE TEAM
Director: Paul Morris
Set Design: Chris Magee
Paint Design: Lisa Magee
Lighting Design: Tommy Scott King-Taft
Properties & Set Decoration Design: Kathy Mead
Costume Design: Quentin Nash Sagers
Costume Crew: Erica Borgers, Janice Nash Sagers
Hair & Make-Up Design: Kaitelyn Bauer Dieguez