Ebenezer Scrooge goes to court in latest VTG production
Published 8:00 pm Tuesday, November 21, 2017
- Cast from “The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge” practice Monday night at the Parkside Playhouse Theatre. Pictured are, from left, Jim Miller, Tyler Gardner, Stephanie Lloyd and Bobby Newell. The show will open at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7 at the theater, 101 Iowa Ave. and will continue through Saturday, Dec. 9. A Sunday matinee will be offered beginning at 2 p.m. Dec. 10. (Mike Calnan•For The Vicksburg Post)
After a night of self-reflection, Ebenezer Scrooge saw the error of his ways, but a year later, is he back to his same old habits?
The Vicksburg Theatre Guild has scheduled performances of “The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge” and the comedy revolves around the old miser and those who enlightened him.
“Scrooge has decided to take Jacob Marley and the ghosts to court,” VTG director Bobby Newell said, and a year later he is suing them for breaking and entering, kidnapping, slander, pain and suffering, attempted murder and the intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Written by Mark Brown and based on Charles Dickens’ book “A Christmas Carol,” Newell said, “The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge” mimics some of the lines used in the Dickens’ classic, however, they may be spoken by a different character and used in a different reference.
VTG veteran Jim Miller will play Scrooge and Tyler Gardner will play Solomon Rothschild, the acting attorney for the ghosts and Marley.
Newell said the idea to offer “The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge” at the Parkside Playhouse Theatre came following a trip.
Newell and his wife had been traveling in Florida, he said, when he saw a playbill for the show. It peaked his interest and after doing some research, Newell said the play looked like it would be a fun show to do around the holidays.
“I thought this would be a good Christmas show because it is a spin on the ‘The Christmas Carol.’”
Newell pitched the idea to those involved at the theater and Sara Goss volunteered to co-direct with him, he said, adding this will be his third time to serve as a VTG director.
With so many revelations in the play and also in an effort not to be a spoiler, all Newell would really reveal about “The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge” was that he hopes the take away for the audience will be one of continual giving.
“Christmas is not just one day a year. The spirit of Christmas is 365 days a year, and that is what I want people to realize from the show,” Newell said.
“The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge” will open at 7:30 p.m. , Dec. 7 at the Parkside Playhouse Theatre, 101 Iowa Ave. and will continue through, Dec. 9. A Sunday matinee will be offered beginning at 2 p.m. Dec. 10.
Tickets are $15, $10 for ages 65 and older and $8 for ages 12 and younger and are available at the box office or at showclix.com/events/10243.
“The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge” is a fundraiser for the VTG, Newell said, and is not part of the regular season membership.