It shows that right away there were those who took liberties with the original material, something that persists even today!
A look at the cast shows that just about everybody gets a name here and Fred is now "Frank Freeheart!"
There are also a couple of characters who are not readily identifiable, such as Dark Sam and Euston, who do appear in the book, but have additional functions here.
The plot of the play follows the structure of the book for the most part, so we'll mainly concentrate on the changes.
We start right off with Scrooge giving Bob Cratchit a hard time about using coal, so that gets things off to a familiar start. There's no narrator, so a lot of what would be narration is expository dialogue from Scrooge or Bob.
Scrooge's nephew makes his usual appearance, but, as noted earlier, he's renamed "Frank" and given a last name. Not sure why, especially the last name, as no one actually says it.
The charity collectors also have names, Cheerly and Heartly, which are only indicted in the script, as they're not called by name at any point. Only Cheerly speaks, which is consistent with the book.
AN added bit is Bob making a donation to the charity guys, foreshadowing the later "Campbell Playhouse" radio broadcasts with Orson Wells and Ernest Chappell's 1941 recording.
The biggest change in the opening portion is that Scrooge gets a letter that informs him that the "Mary Jane," a ship upon which all of Frank's wealth depends, was sunk off the coast of Africa, effectively ruining Frank. The reason for this is apparently to make Scrooge seem even meaner for saying that he wont help Frank, which will later make his conversion even greater.
Apparently Scrooge's bed chamber is in the same building as his office, as after Bob leaves, Scrooge decodes to "save" supper and go right to bed.
Marley's ghost naturally can't appear I the knocker, but he visits Scrooge and gives him the usual warning.
The Ghost of Christmas Past appears and shows old Scrooge himself as a lonely boy, visited by Ali Baba and other characters from his books, then his sister "Fanny" comes in to bring him home.
They also visit Fezziwig's where he sees Fezziwig and Dick Wilkins and other partyers.
The scene shifts to the breakup with his fiancée, who's named "Ellen" here for some reason. Then it seems the spirit describes her happy family life rather than showing Scrooge. It also seems that the actor playing old Scrooge doubles as young Scrooge.
After Scrooge has dismissed this first spirit, the biggest new scene of the whole play occurs...
Bob Cratchit is going home and thinking about how to spend his wages when his pocket is picked by Dark Sam, who moonlights as a pick-pocket while working as the undertaker's man.
This is very bad for Bob, but fortunately he runs into Frank, who gives Bob a sovereign, saving the Cratchit family's Christmas.
Next we're back with Scrooge, who's greeted by the Ghost of Christmas Present. The spirit takes Scrooge to see the miners and lighthouse keepers before bringing him to Frank's house.
We learn that Frank's wife is named Caroline, which in the book is the name of the poor wife who takes guilty pleasure in Scrooge's death. We will see later that another character fills that role here!
We also have Mr. Cheerly, who would seem to be Topper. Neither he nor Caroline are actually called by name.
The little subplot about the lost ship pops up here as Frank receives a letter informing him of that tragedy. Although Frank realizes he is ruined, he doesn't want to spoil the Christmas party.
We're now at the end of Act I and Act II opens at Bob Cratchit's house. All of the usual events occur, but interestingly, Tiny Tim does not say his famous line! Was that not iconic yet? This scene features a ton of expository dialogue!
It's probably another here nor there that Bob's scene comes after Frank's in the play, but in reverse order in the book.
Ignorance and Want put in an appearance, then Scrooge meets the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
Things get interesting in the future, with characters from earlier scenes popping up again.
When the spirit shows the gentlemen talking about Scrooge's death, they're actually Cheerly and Heartly, the two charity collectors. An interesting touch!
The next scene is at old Joe's, where Dark Sam reappears as the undertaker's man, along with "Mrs. Dibler" (sic) and "Mrs. Mildew," as the charwoman is named here. As in the book, only old Joe and Mrs. Dibler (Dilber) are called by name.
Scrooge sees his body and asks to see some emotion caused by "this man's" death, and things get even more intriguing!
We have the scene of the poor couple guiltily feeling relief if not happiness that Scrooge has died. The twist is that it's Ellen (the Belle stand-in) and her husband (named "Euston" here)! Now, how's that? I'm not aware of another adaptation that does this, but it's something!
The usual trip to the Cratchit house with no Tiny Tim and the churchyard with Scrooge's grave follow and Scrooge is ready to repent.
He's back in his room on Christmas morning and arranges for the window boy to purchase the turkey.
The final twist comes as Bob Cratchit stops by to inform him about Frank's plight (which Scrooge is already aware of). Scrooge says he's glad of it, which takes Bob aback, but eh soon sees why, as Frank himself come to say goodbye.
This gives Scrooge the chance to help both Frank and Bob for a quick wrap-up!
So, some intriguing little variations in this early adaptation!
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