BEYOND A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Character Breakdown
Cast: 21+ (11+ with doubling; doubling breakdown following descriptions)
12 female (9 speaking, 3 named non-speaking); 5 male; 4 any gender (3 speaking, 1 musician); unlimited ensembles
SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS PAST Female (any gender), any age. Does good work, prefers modern conveniences to the issues of previous millennial issues, but is a good team player. Loves [insert the name of the town in which the play will be performed]. 😊
SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS FUTURE Male/female (any gender), any age. Knows the routines, focused on herself and her work. Someone who is less apt to fall into traps of gossip or getting caught up in fads. Doesn’t like wasting time.
SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT Female (any gender), any age. Positive, upbeat, joyful, lofty, grandiose in words and gestures, almost to annoying degree. The most motivated of the 3 spirits, and usually leads their assignments.
ADELAIDE Female, around 10 years old. Best friend of Fan Scrooge. Supportive, from a loving, although large and not wealthy, home. Knows Fan well.
FAN Female, around 10 years old. Kind, gentle, but strong soul. Younger sister of Ebenezer Scrooge. She is from a tough home (mother is deceased, Father has been quite mean until recently, brother was sent away to a boarding school), has to work when she’s not in schooling, but she remains good-natured and hopeful.
CHARLIE Male, 8-13 years old. Competitive, but likes to play fair.
HENRY Male, 8-13 years old. Competitive, likes to tease, likes to be right and win at all costs.
JANE Female, 8-12 years old. A friend of Fan’s. Observant, smart, attention to detail, kind of “hall monitor” vibes.
LIZZY Female, around 10 years old. Likes to win, gives off 19th Century “mean girl” vibes. Slightly better off financially than most. Popular for the wrong reasons.
FAN'S TEAM Any genders, 5-13 years old. School kids who join Fan’s team for Tug-of-War, friendly, maybe trying to help even out the teams, or are friends with the kids on that team.
HENRY'S TEAM Any genders, 5-12 years old. School kids who either feel intimated to join Henry’s team, want to because they think they will win, or are friends with Henry or others on that team.
MUSICIAN Male (any gender), any age. A roaming musician of lively Christmas music.
BELLE Female, 30-45. Generous, kind, lively, confident woman, married to a kind, appreciative man, having 7 active and boisterous children. Belle appreciates life—she appreciates her family, having fun and being joyful in the moment. But she also knows that others suffer and extends herself to help those in need—including her ex-beau, Ebenezer. She doesn’t take insults too seriously as she has enough self-worth to recognize his irritation is about him—not her.
DARLING Male, 30-45 (or around Belle’s age). Smitten with his wife, totally in love, appreciates her, values her. He knows he hit the jackpot with her.
MRS. CRATCHIT Female, 30s-50s. Loving mother and wife, but wears the worry of a woman who knows difficult times, financially and for the health and wellbeing of her family. She is comforting, aiming to please and care for her family, make them happy. Harbors ill feelings for the man she blames for much of their struggle: Ebenezer Scrooge.
MARTHA Female, around 18. The oldest daughter of Bob and Mrs. Cratchit. Responsible, encouraging.
CHARLOTTE Female, around 6-10 years old. The youngest daughter of Bob and Mrs. Cratchit. Finds joy in being in baby of the family, even if she doesn’t quite realize this. She loves and feels hard; exuberant. Kind and hopeful heart.
PETER Male, around 12-15. Bob and Mrs. Cratchit’s older son. Finds a little amusement in teasing his younger sister, but is very loyal to his whole family.
MRS. DILBER Female, 40-70. Launderess of Scrooge. Poor, resourceful, a bit of a pushy saleswoman. Doesn’t mind bending the truth or lying in order to get what she wants. She knows how to hustle.
EBENEZER SCROOGE Male, 40s-70s. A former miser, but when we see him, he’s already a changed man. Cheerful, giddy, excited, appreciative of life, after having undergone all the ghosts have shown him.
ISABELLA née FEZZIWIG Female, 40s-70s (around the same age as Scrooge). Warm, loving, welcoming. Oldest daughter of the Fezziwigs. Has her own beautiful daughter. Organized and leading the set-up of the dance. Non-speaking role.
MARY née FEZZIWIG Female, 40s-70s (around the same age as Scrooge). Warm, loving, welcoming. Middle daughter of the Fezziwigs. Has three beautiful daughters of her own. Peace-maker of the daughters, generous. Non-speaking role.
OLIVE née FEZZIWIG Female, 40s-70s (around the same age as Scrooge). Warm, loving, welcoming. Youngest daughter of the Fezziwigs. Has two beautiful daughters of her own. Loves attention, always ready to laugh and make others laugh. Non-speaking role.
PARTY-GOERS/ENSEMBLE People attending the Fezziwig Christmas Dance. Including FEZZIWIG GRANDDAUGHTERS, SUITORS. They can range from children, teens, adults of any age. May be dancers, characters from earlier in the play (such as Belle, Darling, Mrs. Cratchit), or actors doubling as different party-goers (such as the school children from Fan’s classroom).
DOUBLING OPTIONS
CAST: 11+ with doubling (6 female, 2 male, 3 any gender, unlimited ensemble)
DOUBLING OPTION
SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS PAST Female (any gender), any age.
SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS FUTURE Male/female (any gender), any age
SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT Female (any gender), any age.
ADELAIDE/JANE/CHARLIE Female, around 10 years old.
FAN Female, around 10 years old.
HENRY/PETER Male, 8-13 years old.
LIZZY/CHARLOTTE Female, around 10 years old.
FAN'S TEAM Any genders, 5-12 years old.
HENRY'S TEAM Any genders, 5-12 years old.
BELLE/MRS. DILBER/OLIVE Female, 30-45.
MRS. CRATCHIT/ISABELLA Female, 30s-50s.
MARTHA Female, around 18.
EBENEZER SCROOGE/DARLING Male, 40s-50s.