I have tried in this little book full of ghosts to evoke a spirit of thought that will not upset my readers or prevent them from associating with other people and with me at this particular time of year.
So let it haunt their homes and let no one let it go.
A faithful friend and servant
Charles Dickens
December 1843
A special place in the output of Charles Dickens is occupied by a series of works related to the cult of Christmas, the so-called star stories. The first of them, "A Christmas Carol in Prose", was written in late autumn and was published just before Christmas in 1843. It was created by Dickens "in a strange excitement, as if he was reliving his childhood years" (S. Majchrowski, "Dickens. Opowieść biograficzna", Warsaw 1984).
Indeed, there are many references in the work to the writer's childhood experiences and experiences. First of all - the very idea of ghost-lore, which was and still is very popular in England. All the more commonly they were told – and listened to – a hundred and fifty years ago. As the biographer writes: "a few-year-old Dickens absorbed every word - delighted, afraid, moved by curiosity". With no less delight and curiosity, stories about ghosts are received by modern children. […]
"A Christmas Carol" was enthusiastically received. The entire 6,000th edition of the first edition was sold out in one day. “All resumes disappeared at once. Dickens received hundreds of letters of thanks..., all of England cried and laughed reading... about Scrooge's conversation with a partner who was translucent, as befits a ghost... (S. Majchrowski).
They praised "A Christmas Carol" and everyone was delighted with it: ordinary - adults and small - readers, but also writers, such as William M. Thackeray - author of e.g. The Ring and the Rose, critics (Lord Francis Jeffrey) and philosophers (Thomas Carlyle). It became a permanent part of the Christmas repertoire, especially in England, where it was read aloud after Christmas pudding by the Christmas tree with burning candles. It is still read all over the world, and has also found its way into the canon of school reading.
The stage adaptation of "A Christmas Carol", written by Krystyna Jakóbczyk especially for the puppet theater, received in 1994 a distinction in the 5th edition of the drama competition organized by the National Center of Art for Children and Youth in Poznań. […]
Teresa Brzeska-Smerek
Source:
"
A Christmas Carol
" [programme], "Zeszyty Teatralne" 1998, No. 222, edited by A. Buck and A. Tokarska.
Creators:
Author: Charles Dickens
Translation: Krystyna Tarnowska
Adapted and directed by Krystyna Jakóbczyk
Scenography: Urszula Kubicz-Fik
Music and lyrics of carols: Jerzy Stachurski
Cast:
Characters in the living plan:
Jan Wysocki (Ebenezer Scrooge)
Janusz Kaczmarski (Banker II, Gentleman, Spirit of This Year's Christmas)
Ludwik Schiller (Bankier III, Fred [living plan and puppet])
Marek Szczęsny (Banker I)
Jerzy Lamenta (Mr. Cratchit [living set and puppet])
Live characters in masks:
Beata Sobicka-Kupczyk (The Spirit of Future Christmas Eve)
Wioletta Sokal (Ghost of Christmas Past, Vulture Maid)
Dobrosława Trębacz (Victorian Lady, Banker IV)
Janusz Kaczmarski (Angel of Justice)
Marek Szczęsny (Ghost of Marley, Caravaner-Vulture, Angel of Justice)
Puppet Characters:
Beata Sobicka-Kupczyk (Little and Older Boy, Love, Anna, Tim)
Ludwig Schiller (Youth)
Wioletta Sokal (Ignorance)
Dobrosława Trębacz (Polly, Robinson Crusoe's Parrot, Vulture, Fan, Scrooge's Sister, Greed, Mrs. Cratchit, Fred's Wife, Dick)
Maria Weigelt (Loneliness, Marta, Bella, Poverty)
Janusz Kaczmarski (Ali Baba)
Jerzy Lamenta (Robinson Crusoe, Mr. Fezzwig, Mr. Topper, Vulture)
Premiere: December 6, 1998
Photos: Leszek Krutulski
Program cover design and drawings: Urszula Kubicz-Fik
