Scrooge, Marley & Me
In this lightly-interactive dinner theatre play, King Scrydan is so cheap that he can’t even pay attention. And if he did, he would know that everyone calls him Scrooge behind his back. Coming from beyond Jamaica, his dearly-departed brother Marley tells him, “Bredda, yuh inna big chobble. Yuh be too gravelicious. But me cyan 'elp yuh wit dat problem.” Luckily, Marley has brought along his Jamaican-to-English interpreter who can translate. Marley warns Scrydan that if he does not change his skinflint ways, it will lead to a fate worse than death. Scrydan will be visited by three “Duppy Men” (ghosts) who persuade him by whatever means necessary to mend his ways and live a little. Lots of extra fun by involving the audience, especially for the non-speaking “role” of Tiny Tim! This play can be made into a madrigal dinner theatre piece with additional instructions included in the back of the script.
Productions
Behind The Scenes
JANE and JIM JEFFRIES TALK ABOUT
"SCROOGE, MARLEY & ME"
Q: What inspired you to write this play?
A: Three reasons: We’ve always loved "A Christmas Carol," we think Christmas has become too commercialized, and we think that Bob Marley would make a really cool Christmas ghost.
Q: What's your favorite part or line in the play? Why?
A: We love the following dialogue.
PAST: Come with us then, as we travel back 40 years to the 27th of November 1501.
KING: (Thinks a moment.) No! Not that day! It is too horrible!
JESTER: I forgot. What happened on that day? Was it the appearance of the Black Knight?
TOWN CRIER: (To JESTER.) Black Death?
KING: No, Black Friday!
We figured that Black Friday is only slightly less destructive than the Black Death (except, now, we have a cure for the Black Death).
Q: Where did the characters come from?
A: King Scrydan is based on me (Jim). You should see me at a thrift sale. I can haggle a $1.00 shirt down to $.50 and wonder if I’ve paid too much.
Q: What did you try to achieve with this play?
A: We were mostly just having fun, but hopefully, it will make people think about what Christmas is all about.