Discussion Questions for Video Excerpt 2: Marley’s Ghost by LIAM COLLIER
Kareem Bandealy as Jacob Marley in “A Christmas Carol” at Goodman Theatre. Photo by Liz Lauren.
The following questions were written to accompany this excerpt from the 2019 production of “A Christmas Carol.” You may find them particularly useful in ELA and Theatre classrooms. 1. One of the most important jobs an actor has is to create a dynamic performance that keeps the audience engaged. In the excerpt provided, Larry Yando and Kareem Bandealy, who play Ebenezer Scrooge and Jacob Marley, both make several bold acting choices to do just that! Pick one line delivered during this scene. How does the actor use his voice and body to keep the audience engaged in the story? 2. Take a moment to read Charles Dickens’ description of Marley’s Ghost from the original 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol :
The same face: the very same. Marley in his pigtail, usual waistcoat, tights and boots; the tassels on the latter bristling, like his pigtail, and his coat-skirts, and the hair upon his head. The chain he drew was clasped about his middle. It was long, and wound about him like a tail; and it was made (for Scrooge observed it closely) of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel. His body was transparent; so that Scrooge, observing him, and looking through his waistcoat, could see the two buttons on his coat behind… ...though [Scrooge] looked the phantom through and through, and saw it standing 7
