Grace Siplon's The Trial of Scrooge Reimagines
Charles Dickens' Classic Tale for Blue Box

Every time we hear a familiar story retold, we are experiencing an adaptation. (Even having it read aloud by a second reader affords an adaptation, because different readers infuse the words with different meanings through their inflections, their pauses, and their tones of voice.)

Blue Box Theatre Company's production of The Trial of Scrooge is an adaptation (and, therefore, a retelling) of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted and directed by Blue Box co-founder Grace Siplon. Indeed, each of Blue Box's seasons includes such an adaptation as their annual "Something Borrowed" offering.

We are presented with the Ebenezer Scrooge's encounter with the ghost of Jacob Marley and the subsequent visitations of ghosts of The Past, The Present, and The Future. The significant difference is, that the action takes place in a courtroom, and the specters are officers of the court. Scrooge is literally on trial not for his financial misdeeds, but for the emotional bankruptcy that he inflicts on those around him. We, the audience, are asked to act as jury -- to make the determination: Is he innocent? Or guilty?

The Trial of Scrooge, adapted and directed by Grace Siplon, stars Michael Shannon (center) and the Ghosts of Christmas
(from left): Cameron Waters (Present), Jaye Bullock (Future), Lucian Silver (Past), and Bruce Rosenbloom (Jacob Marley)

The Play:

As we are accustomed to it, the story begins with Scrooge waking up. However, in this version, he wakes up on the witness stand in a courtroom. A disembodied, reverberating voice speaks briefly, and the ghost of Jacob Marley (his deceased business partner) enters from behind the audience, approaches him, and gives him the familiar warning.

Past, Present, and Future, in turn, visit him; and he is presented with short, poignant vignettes as "evidence" in this "trial."

Where will all of this lead? Will everything lead to redemption (innocent) or condemnation (guilty)?

Stephanie Spohrer (left) and Harris Middlesworth star as Clara and Fred in The Trial of Scrooge, adapted and directed by Grace Siplon

The Acting:

Michael T. Shannon is quite impressive as Scrooge. His performance does elicit laughter at times, but Shannon never goes over the top, never presents Scrooge as a caricature of himself. The character's initial disdain and eventual agonized soul-searching comes across as very real. (Note: Travis Walsh will assume the role for the show's second weekend, Dec. 13-15.)

Lucian Silver delivers a very bubbly and upbeat "Past," and Cameron Waters' stage presence as "Present" is nothing short of commanding. Jaye Bullock, as the hooded "Future," adds the twist of being an all-knowing "future" who sees way beyond "the times" that would be considered relevant to a Victorian audience. Bullock's occasional wink-and-a-nod to the audience punctuates this perspective.

Bruce Rosenbloom is properly spectral as Marley. The stiff postures, slightly mechanical movements, and perpetual scowl all complement the booming voice with which Rosenbloom's Marley accosts Scrooge. Significantly, when Rosenbloom returns as part of the ensemble, portraying other characters in the vignettes, all Marley-isms have appropriately vanished.

Laird Davis, Tyler Jennings Dennis, Mary Mask, Harris Middlesworth, Laura Pennachi, and Stephanie Spohrer team up well to form the ensemble that presents a variety of personalities in the vignettes.

There are delightful aspects to each performance in every scene, but two fleeting moments in Stephanie Spohrer's performance struck me as especially endearing. As Scrooge's sister Fan, she creates a very sweet, bubbly moment, and as Martha Cratchit she creates an aura of headstrong (but never forced) feistiness that is just as delightful.

The Tech:

Director Grace Siplon also handled set design, supplying the pieces to tweak the acting area enough to accommodate the various settings of the vignettes. Siplon's costume design is also on point, clothing every character played by each of the actors with period-specific clothing that is also "character-specific."

Matt St. Lawrence's lighting design includes the necessary subtle shifts. Sound design by Cameron Waters creates the sometimes-eerie effects needed for the story. Props by Rachel Horowitz Andrews add the final layer of seasoning.

The Blue Box Theatre Company will present The Trial of Scrooge on Dec. 6-15 at the Chatham County Historic Courthouse in Pittsboro

Nice Touches:

• First and foremost: the choice to present this trial in an actual courtroom!
• The "smell of Christmas" and the candles on the set.
• The "instant tree" in the flashback to Christmas chez Fezziwig.

• The addition of reverb to the disembodied voice.
• Christmas Present mimes turning the "page" of the "piano" music.
• Multiple appearances of a certain shawl (you'll see what I mean).
• The unison gasps of shock in the Cratchit household when Scrooge appears.
• Christmas Present's use of a pitch pipe before singing.

Memorable Lines:

• "Cheat! Leech! Vampire!"
• "It isn't a ledger! It's a diary."
• "You fear the world too much."
• "How can she not be real when I can see the sunlight in her hair?"
• "I am in the twinkle of every eye of every babe on Christmas morning."
• "I don't deal in death, Scrooge; I deal in time."

The Trial of Scrooge, adapted and directed by Grace Siplon, stars Mary Mask as Young Belle and Harris Middlesworth as Young Scrooge

From the Department of Picky-Picky:

Each time that Scrooge sits in the chair of the witness stand, he becomes invisible to the house-left audience. Possible solution: Historically, when one would "stand trial" in England, he would actually stand in "the dock." Perhaps, Scrooge could simply stand while in the witness stand?

Two points in the final tableau: The singers (downstage) block our view of the "panel of judges." And the singing drowns out the dialogue.

Even though his limp was believable, Tiny Tim really should walk with a crutch.

The Blue Box Theatre Company will present The Trial of Scrooge on Dec. 6-15 at the Chatham County Historic Courthouse in Pittsboro

The Bottom Line:

The Blue Box Theatre Company's The Trial of Scrooge is well worth seeing. It tells a refreshingly different version of this familiar story that seems to include a somewhat deeper message about the "ripple effect" of human behavior.

The 7 p.m. show times on Friday and Saturday, along with the not-overly-long run time, might just make it an ideal part of an evening double-header.

THE TRIAL OF SCROOGE (In Person at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13-15), adapted and directed by Grace Siplon Grace Siplon Grace Siplon and starring Michael T. Shannon or Travis Walsh as Ebenezer Scrooge, Bruce Rosenbloom as Jacob Marley , Lucian Silver as Past, Cameron Waters as Present, and Jaye Bullock as Future, with Laird Davis, Tyler Jennings Dennis, Mary Mask, Harris Middlesworth, Laura Pennachi, and Stephanie Spohrer (Blue Box Theatre Company at the Chatham County Historic Courthouse at 17 Sanford Rd. in Pittsboro). DIGITAL PROGRAM: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGUanf7y4w/-JBTssYBJYuXaXMDQBE_RA/edit. PRESENTER: https://www.blueboxtheatrecompany.org/, https://www.facebook.com/bbxtheatre, https://www.instagram.com/theblueboxtheatre/, and https://twitter.com/BBXTheatre. 2024 SEASON: https://www.blueboxtheatrecompany.org/season. VENUE: https://sites.google.com/view/pittsborowalkingtour/historic-courthouse. DIRECTIONS: https://www.google.com/maps/. TICKETS: $20-$25, plus taxes and fees. Click here to buy tickets. INFORMATION: theblueboxtheatre@gmail.com. PLEASE DONATE TO: Blue Box Theatre Company.

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