A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Humbug

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  6w, 6m

John Wooten

"Wooten has indeed concocted a comedy that puts a great of deal of delicious nonsense into Charles Dickens' most famous story...a multitude of laughs" - The Newark Star-Ledger

"A witty, timely, poignant script interspersed with upbeat Christmas carols and a timeless message of caring" – The Westfield Leader

Humbug

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    6w, 6m
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Christmas/Holiday

Details

Summary
As A Christmas Carol with a modern day twist, Humbug follows the story of Eleanor Scrooge, a ruthlessly ambitious Wall Street executive who has an aversion to Christmas and an insatiable appetite for power. Locked in her office on a snowy Christmas Eve, Eleanor is determined to finish a corporate-takeover proposal until three "advisors" provide her with an eye-opening new appreciation for the holidays and the spirit of Christmas. An upbeat and moving adaptation of Dickens' holiday classic, Humbug is one for the ages. With a contemporary flair, it is a tale the whole family will enjoy!
Keywords
LEANOR SCROOGE - 40s: female; attractive, coporate, sharp, sarcastic, initimidating
BOBBIE CRATCHIT - 30s; female; a good soul, loyal, mother, Scrooge's assistant
CAROLER #1/PRESENT - 30s; female; exceptionally adept character actress, small, requires cockney accent, sings well
CAROLER #2/ELLIE/LISA - 20s; female; attractive, plays young Scrooge, versatile actress requires, sings well
CAROLER #3/TUG/BILL/BENSON - 30s; male; versatile actor required, sings well
CAROLOER #4/PAST/JUAN - 20s; male; handsome, strong comic and versatile actor required, sings well
BEN/JACOB MARLEY/GRAVEDIGGER - 40s-50s; male; strong comic and versatile actor requires
PHIL - 20s; good-natured and likeable
JOHN/ROBERT/FUTURE - 30s; male; tall, handsome, charming, strong comic and versatile actor required
SARAH/NURSE/NELLIE - 20s; female; strong comic and versatile actress required
TESS/CARLA - late 20s; female; plays Eleanor's sister, versatile actress required
YOUNG PHIL/TIMMY - 9; male; plays Eleanor's nephew and Bobbie's son; stage experience required

Allowed changes to script: The lines refering to Past’s ethniticy can
be altered should an Asian actor not be cast in the role. The height of
Past can also be changed to represent the actual height of the actor
playing the role.

  • Time Period Present Day
  • Setting The present, Christmas Eve in a Wall Street office suite on the 16th floor.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes

Media

"Wooten has indeed concocted a comedy that puts a great of deal of delicious nonsense into Charles Dickens' most famous story... a multitude of laughs" - The Newark Star-Ledger
"Humbug is full of humor, warmth... a must see addition to the list of holiday classics" – The Home News Tribune
"A witty, timely, poignant script interspersed with upbeat Christmas carols and a timeless message of caring" – The Westfield Leader
"Wooten has nicely shaped his fast paced and lively conceit into a 75-minute play while finding clever modern day equivalents for most of Dickens' characters and situations, and even adding a principal thread of his own... pleasant, bright Christmas entertainment for the entire family" – Talkin' Broadway
"The play is for the entire family. Adults will be moved by it, and it would make for a fascinating introduction to live theatre for five-year-olds and up" – Union Leader

ON BREAKING CHARACTER

19 Holiday Shows for 2019
by Jim Colleran
August 14, 2019

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

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Authors

John Wooten

John Wooten
John Wooten’s plays have been produced Off-Broadway, in London, and in regional Equity theaters across the country. Productions include: Trophies (Off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane), Hannah (Premiere Stages), The Mission Home (King’s Head Theatre in London and the Forum Theatre ...
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