Carol* A Christmas is an ensemble play. A timely, new idea in Christmas plays for all groups. The only constant role is Carol herself. All other performers become various characters who interact with her. Ensemble members may play one or several featured roles, depending on cast size. The original casts varied from 10 to 27 players. Action takes place in front of a wall formed by the outward-facing cast members—the Living Cyclorama. Performers move in and out of scenes from this location. The ensemble costume is blue jeans, soft-soled shoes, and a red or green or red and green top. Individual character is suggested by costume bits added to this outfit and stored near the Living Cyclorama when not being worn. Carol alone does not wear red or green. She may accessorize with these colors for the final scene, however.

The setting is an open space variously suggesting the school commons, a library, Carol's home, a television studio, and Carol's room. Two chairs are the only set pieces.

The "Scrooge" in this unusual application of Dickens' plot is a high school girl named Carol. Rather than money, Carol's greed is for good grades. Carol wants to be accepted...not by her peers, not by boyfriends, not by her parents, but by the college of her choice. And so, for the sake of a high grade-point average, she is willing to give up friends, fun, charitable work, school activities. Then she has a dream, a visit by three "spirits" that show her the happy little girl she used to be, the dreary unpleasant person she is now, and the unhappy, friendless woman she is about to become. The play doesn't say, "Don't study"! It says that study (or by inference, any other compulsive obsession) is dangerous if it's not tempered by common sense, sociability, and compassion.

Other McDonough Christmas plays: A Christmas Carol (1-act), It's Sad, So Sad When an Elf Goes Bad, The Nearest Star, Not Even A. Mouse, O Little Town, Posadas (bilingual), Señor Scrooge (bilingual)

See also: A Christmas Carol (full-length), A Christmas for Carol, A Country Christmas Carol