There’s a reason Charles Dickens’s novella “A Christmas Carol” has never been out of print since it first appeared in 1843. Elements of holiday magic, the supernatural, and social commentary all combine to tell the story of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge—quite possibly the most miserable man in all of London. Until, on the evening of December 24, he is visited by the ghost of his former partner, Jacob Marley, as well the spirits of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come. These otherworldly beings force Scrooge to examine the way he has lived his life; they also offer him a chance of redemption. If only he can be convinced to change his ways.
The tale has been adapted for an ever-growing host of mediums, with each new presentation offering its own take on the material. Usually these retain the story’s core essence—something evident in two productions currently streaming through the end of the 2020 holiday season.
