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Premiére Theatrical Licensing

Plays and Musicals for All Audiences and Theatre Groups, Amateur, Educational, Professional, and Religious

The Cricket On The Hearth — Staged Radio Play

The Cricket On The Hearth — Staged Radio Play

Adapted from the Charles Dickens story

by R. Rex Stephenson & Jody D. Brown

(For performance by any amateur, educational or professional theatre group.)

Dickens’ heartwarming Christmas tribute brings a genial spirit into the festivities as Mr. Tackleton, much like Ebeneezer Scrooge, is changed through the course of the story, into a better person. With great plot points of suspense, intrigue, and mistaken identity along the way, this brisk adaptation allows the audience/listener to wonder if it will turn out all right. Published in 1845, this story of love at Christmastime, the tale of John and Dot Peerybingle, Caleb and Bertha Plummer, May Fielding and––well, that would be spoiling it––has long been a popular ‘sequel’ to Dickens’ holiday favorite, “A Christmas Carol,” originally published in 1843. This show is a great alternative for those tired of seeing the endless round of “A Christmas Carol” adaptations, for it is fresh and crisp. A present for the audience that is rarely opened so well as in this adaptation. This version is designed to be played in front of a live audience as if that audience were witnessing the entertainment being broadcast on live radio, sometime now or in the past. The added bonus is that for a small fee, the live theatrical presentation can be broadcast on the radio by the company who produces it in affiliation with a local radio station. Or it could be produced solely for the radio program. Another option for this play is to simply produce it in a story theatre version, with sets, costumes, lights and such.

PLAY DETAILS:

  • 5 men, 4 women, 2 either
    • Narrator (male or female)
      Mrs. Peerybingle (Dot)
      John Peerybingle
      Tilly Slowboy
      Stranger (later Edward)
      Caleb Plummer
      Mr. Tackleton
      Bertha Plummer
      May Fielding
      Fielding — May’s Father (Could also be played by a female)
      Man
  • One set, with props (and costumes if a live production)
  • 60 minutes
  • ORDER # 3326

Available for all producing groups

PERUSAL MATERIALS

Performance Licence Application a filler form. No production rights can be granted until this application is filled out and sent to us.

REHEARSAL MATERIALS AVAILABLE

  • Script in PDF format  — Order #3326a : $20.00 (from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)



  • First Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3326d : $50



     

  • Second Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3326e : $50



     

  • Professional Royalties will be quoted upon application

PRODUCTIONS:

  • Broadcast on NPR, WVTF Virginia’s Public Radio Station — Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 2017
  • Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre presented The Cricket on the Hearth (in musical form)  at Pigg River Community Center in Rocky Mount VA — in December, 2008
  • Alice Lloyd College, KY — 2002
  • Kentucky Christian University, KY — 2002
  • Ferrum College, VA — 2002

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