PETER CRATCHIT, ESQ. by Kerr Lockhart

FULL-LENGTH IN ONE ACT: 40 years after Scrooge's sojourn among the spirits, Bob Cratchit's eldest son, Peter has been left holding the bag, running the charitable foundation that Scrooge and his father began, fed up with the endless demands on his time, sympathy, and patience, and learning to complete loath Christmas. When he reaches a crisis, he is visited by his own Christmas ghosts, in the...
FULL-LENGTH IN ONE ACT: 40 years after Scrooge's sojourn among the spirits, Bob Cratchit's eldest son, Peter has been left holding the bag, running the charitable foundation that Scrooge and his father began, fed up with the endless demands on his time, sympathy, and patience, and learning to complete loath Christmas. When he reaches a crisis, he is visited by his own Christmas ghosts, in the persons of Bob Cratchit, Jacob Marley and Ebenezer Scrooge, respectively. Together they review Peter's life; how he became a naturally generous boy; fell in love; sacrificed a career as a musician so that the-formerly-Tiny Tim could become a surgeon, became fettered to an office, and over time, losing the spirit and meaning of Christmas. Of course, he is redeemed at the end and conducts a lively celebration. Overtones of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE are blended with those of A CHRISTMAS CAROL to provide a new-but-old Christmas entertainment.
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Reading List

PETER CRATCHIT, ESQ.

Recommended by

  • Jacquelyn Floyd-Priskorn:
    16 Oct. 2023
    “ Who takes care of the caretakers? Who gives gifts to the gift givers? People like Peter Cratchit often get forgotten about because people are so busy asking him for help. It can be exhausting. This play is quite lyrical and lovely how it shows how easy a kind heart can be burnt out when they forget WHERE their kindness stems from. A wonderful sequel to a Christmas Carol that also gives honor to other religious denominations as well, by way of Scrooge himself. Consider adding this to your holiday programming! ”
  • Rachel Feeny-Williams:
    29 Oct. 2022
    “ When you have a tale like "A Christmas Carol" its difficult to imagine anyone creating a new twist for it, but Kerr has and in an expert fashion. While the piece is set long after Scrooge's night with the spirits, as a wonderfully written story in which Peter Cratchit has reached a crossroads in his life and has to be shown where his choices could lead. Its a wonderful play with a great sense of community and I can imagine would be great to produce. My heartiest congratulations Kerr, you know how to keep Christmas all the year! ”
  • Alice Josephs:
    17 Oct. 2021
    “ A crafty follow up to the Charles Dickens’s Christmas classic, A Christmas Carol. Slyly managing to bridge Victorian charity and the modern world of social insurance and non profit organisations, Lockhart extends the pageant of memorable characters, a Christmas gift for director, actor and designer all year round! With underlying, subversive, knotty reversals yet keeping the well-loved story set pieces, this is both rueful rumination and a warm-hearted family entertainment, as double edged as the real life character of Dickens himself. ”
View all 9 recommendations

PETER CRATCHIT 53, the oldest son of Bob Cratchit, now head of Scrooge’s charity
MEREDITH PRICE Mid-20s, chief administrator of that chrity
GOOLSBY 30s, raising funds for a different charity
TIM CRATCHIT 46, no longer “Tiny”, hopefully tall and thin
MACSPIKE Adolescent ruffian
DISGUSTING OLD MAN Homeless Santa Claus-looking fellow
MRS CORCORAN 30-40, Tired, angry, sweaty, Irish mum
MRS. CRATCHIT 40+, wife of Bob Cratchit, cheery mum type
JACOB MARLEY 60+, Scrooge’s former partner
RACHAEL Girlfriend, then wife of Peter, 20s, then 50s
BOB CRATCHIT 50+ Father to Peter
EBENEZER SCROOGE 60+ The now-generous and good-hearted Scrooge
SUPPLICANT Confused person seeking a grant from the Trust
TWO BUSINESSMEN 40+ gasbags
VICAR An English vicar -- any age
LORD CUMBERGROUND 50+ Useless rich gasbag
MADELEINE 40+ wife of Tim Cratchit
CHALMERS, PILCH, MRS. TAPLEY - Employees of KCATYET

This play is contemplated both as a full-cast school or community production OR as a professional production, in which case it can be performed by as few as 4 men and 2 women, following these proposed tracks (or such variations as you may devise):

PETER CRATCHIT
BOB CRATCHIT / GOOLSBY/1st BUSINESSMAN / PILCH
TIM / MARLEY / MACSPIKE / VICAR / 2nd BUSINESSMAN
SCROOGE /DISGUSTING OLD MAN / SUPPLICANT/CUMBERGROUND/CHALMERS
MRS. CRATCHIT / MRS. CORCORAN / LADY JOURNALIST / MRS. TAPLEY
RACHAEL / MERRY PRICE / MADELINE

Feel free to cast race, age, and gender-neutral, as long as things are clear to your audience.

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Play Readings With Friends
    ,
    2020
  • Reading
    ,
    Leonia Players Guild
    ,
    2018
  • Reading
    ,
    St. James Players, Upper Montclair, NJ
    ,
    2017