A Dickens of a Holiday!

This program is rated G

and is suitable for general audiences.

- How's it looking, Mayor Givens?

- Hey, Cassie, everything is coming together perfectly.

- Oh, my. This time tomorrow,

Dickens, Ohio becomes Victorian London.

- It's gonna be a wonderful week.

- Oh, it depends on your grand finale, doesn't it?

Now, how are things looking over at the theater?

I'm gonna say it,

this is going to be the best version

of "A Christmas Carol" this town has ever seen.

- It's the 100th anniversary

of our town's production of the play, Cassie.

It has to be better than the best.

- Well, technically better than the best

still makes it the best, am I right?

It will be.

- Well, when you have a seasoned veteran

like Ray Muller playing Scrooge,

it pretty well directs itself, right?

Well, not really.

I mean, okay,

so this one time when I was at NYU,

I was- - oh, Harry!

I'll just be over here if you need me.

Some of these flats are older than I am.

I wonder if we should touch up the edges a bit?

Hey, guys.

Ah, Matt, you read my mind.

Thank you. You guys, your paint.

You're great.

You got it, Cassie.

- Andy Fitzgerald, "Dickens Gazette."

- Ah, Andy. I know who you are.

You, uh, you've been my parents' neighbor

for like 30 years.

I got a part-time job

as a reporter with the paper.

It's a bucket list thing.

Just go with it.

- Is this for that Arts and Entertainment section?

- Mayor's got us doing a special Dickens Day edition.

He wants this year's production

to get as much press as possible.

Oh, that's good,

because people are going to love it.

At least I hope they love it.

It's just, the cast has been working so hard, right?

And I know how much this play

means to people during the holiday.

- I wonder though, isn't directing local theater

kind of a step down from Broadway?

Um, well,

I wasn't ever actually on Broadway per se.

- Well, that's not what your mom says.

Well, see, I directed

a couple of shows off Broadway-

And how far off?

- Off, off. Like, you needed a car.

Okay, listen, the mayor brought me on

because I know this play backwards and forwards.

I grew up with it.

My first role was in this play.

Ebenezer's lost love, Belle.

- Uh, no. Cratchit daughter number three.

- Hmm. - No lines, but, well,

I created a complex backstory for her, okay?

- Hmm. - And I was only six.

- Maybe I should get a quote from Ray,

the Sir Patrick Stewart of Central Ohio.

Is Ray here?

- Uh- Where's our Scrooge?

- You know, he should've been here a few minutes ago.

- Give me a call when the star of the show

gets here, okay?

Okay.

Okay, so, so remember Tiny Tim

doesn't feel sorry for himself.

He has a really positive spirit,

which is ultimately what gets Scrooge to change.

So I shouldn't act sick?

- Just let his sickness show only on the outside.

On the inside, Tiny Tim

is like any other happy-go-lucky kid.

- What about the crutch, can I still use that?

- Yes, just try not to wave it around

like a lightsaber on show night.

Deal? - Deal.

Okay.

I'd better get going.

My mom's over there. - Okay, I'll walk you.

- My mom said you were like the best actor

in Dickens growing up.

Aw, that's nice.

I, uh, I wasn't bad.

Okay, bye. - Bye, Cassie.

Hey, Brandon!

- Hi, Marilyn. - Hi!

Hi, Mom.

- Hey, you. getting in some extra rehearsal time?

Yeah, yeah.

Brandon is just so committed

to doing a great job as Tiny Tim.

- A director's job is never done.

- No, not until everyone takes a bow.

Um, did you tell Andy I was on Broadway?

- Oh, I might've said something. Why?

- Well, because apparently everyone thinks

I'm some big director that's got this in the bag.

- Don't you? - I hope so.

But I haven't worked as a director in five years, right?

I'm not exactly brimming with confidence.

I blame David.

I mean, you took time off

to help him start his business.

And what did he do in return?

Well, he amicably agreed

to a divorce and fair settlement,

which is the whole reason I get to have this time

to figure out my next steps.

Well, would it be good to know

that the Palmer's are hiring

someone in accounts payable

and I can put in a good word? - Uh,

I will keep that in mind.

Oh, oh, that's the mayor.

Uh, I gotta go.

- Okay. Bye, sweetie. - Bye.

- Cassie, I'm sorry for taking you

away from everything,

but, um, this is something we should discuss

away from the rest of the cast.

- I had a feeling this was gonna be an issue.

Ray, I can only imagine how weird

this must be for you to have your former student

now be your director,

but if something's wrong, you can talk to me.

That is the issue, Cassie.

He can't talk at all.

Raymond has laryngitis.

Oh. Oh, okay.

Uh, Ray, I'm sure you're gonna be fine.

I mean, you know, all of your blocking

and your lines, right?

And I'm sure your famous lemon-ginger tea

is gonna clear up your throat lickety-split,

right before the show on Christmas Eve.

- It's not that's simple, Cassie.

Raymond has a large vocal nodule.

- Oh. - 40 years of performing

and teaching have finally caught up with him.

And he is on strict vocal rest.

Not a peep for a month if he wants to avoid surgery.

Oh no, no Ray, I'm sorry.

I can only imagine how hard this is for you.

I know Ray is irreplaceable,

but I'm gonna have to find someone else to play Scrooge.

Who's his understudy?

Daniel Gary.

And he's what, not good?

Daniel won a trip to Jamaica,

and because Ray has never missed a show,

I told him to go.

I hate to say this,

but we may need to cancel the play.

What?

This is the longest running production in the country.

We just need to find another Scrooge.

- Who could possibly fill Ray's shoes?

His Scrooge is iconic!

Okay, I completely agree,

but I can just call some of my theater friends

in New York, right?

I'm sure one of them is gonna know a name

that we can hire to come out and do the show.

- We don't have the budget to hire a big actor.

Besides, this is community theater,

it has to be someone from Dickens.

Jake Dorsey.

I like it. I like it a lot.

No, it's not good.

I don't like it. - Why not?

Jake is the biggest name

that's ever come out of this town.

Yep.

I can't think of a better way

to promote Dickens Days.

And he'd definitely draws a big crowd.

- Mayor Givens, he's an action star.

Okay? The guy's a super cheese.

There's no way he could handle

a complex role like Scrooge.

- He's a professional actor, Cassie.

I'm sure he could learn the part,

especially with your help.

- And his nephew is playing Tiny Tim.

I bet he'd love to do it.

I'm sure he's busy.

- Only one way to find out, call him.