Social The Casting Couch Game - A Christmas Carol

Today's the day!

Roll calling for the RPF Christmas Extravaganza!

A Christmas Carol!



This will be an annual event that henceforth begins in October, and runs through to the end of Winter.

It is a game, but it is a game with some twists and turns...

Mainly, that we a CASTING GAME!

So, the Directors, myself, @Lady_Belligerent and @TheSilentInfluence, shall confirm the cast as we go along, via the traditional sheets way, but the secondary twist would be...!

We are happy to accept your characters taking a role in the game! In-fact, we would encourage it!

For example, perhaps Rhoen Aquilla played by @galactic-vagabond422 casts for the role of Tiny Tim! Or maybe @greyjedi125 deploys Manticore to play Fred... or @Adalia-Durron plays, well, Adalia, as Mrs Fezziwig!

ALSO!

Nothing to stop you playing it straight! Scrooge as Scrooge, for example!

To believe is to disbelieve is to suspend it!



So the cast...

[Post One of Three]

 

Post Two

The Scrooges:



EBENEZER SCROOGE: Male. Scrooge is a grumpy old man who has buried a lot of memories by focusing only on his work and material success. To be played by: Aryan Graul @HanSolo29

FRED: Male. Fred is the opposite of his uncle Scrooge— upbeat and optimistic, he celebrates his life, even though he’s not well off financially. To be played by Tay Neir @Tay Neir

JANE: Female. Jane is Fred’s wife; confident and strong, a modern woman who isn’t afraid to let her voice be heard.

The Cratchit Family:
BOB CRATCHIT: Male. Bob is a good-natured and hard-working man, doing his best to stay positive while supporting a large family and working for a very difficult boss. To be played by: @Ananta Chetan

MRS. CRATCHIT: Female. Bob Cratchit’s supportive wife and mother to their large brood. Featured solos

TINY TIM: Male. Tiny Tim is Cratchit’s son who, despite his physical challenges, still believes in everything around him. To be played by: Driggs Norghar @Mitth_Fisto

MARTHA CRATCHIT: Female, late teens or older. Bob Cratchit’s oldest child who has moved out but who makes it home for Christmas, knowing how important it is to the family.

BELINDA CRATCHIT: Female, pre-mid teen. Bob Cratchit’s younger daughter.

SUSAN CRATCHIT: Female, pre-mid teen. Bob Cratchit’s younger daughter.

PETER CRATCHIT: Male, early teens. Bob Cratchit’s oldest son, on the brink of adulthood but not quite there yet.

The Spirits:



JACOB MARLEY: Male. The ghost of Jacob Marley shows the tragic end of a life lived like Scrooge’s. He deals in heavy emotions at all times— anger and anguish mostly. To be played by: @CosmoHender

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST: Female, teens and up. The Ghost seems gentle and etherial, but her questioning of Scrooge intentionally causes him to address memories he’d be happier to push aside. To be played by TheSilentInfluence

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT: Adult. Loud and boisterous, the Ghost lives in the moment but mixes his good nature with a serious understanding of the weight of time. To be played by Lady_Belligerent

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS YET TO COME: Non-speaking. To be played by Sinrebirth

FANNY: Scrooge’s Sister. Her warmth is such that she can make even Boy Scrooge’s saddest day better.

From Scrooge’s Past:
BOY EBENEZER: Male, pre-teen. Scrooge as a child is sullen and lonely, mostly content to bury himself in books rather than engage the world around him.

YOUNG EBENEZER: Male. Unlike his older self, Young Ebenezer tempers his drive to succeed with a dash of wide-eyed romance.

ISABEL: Female. Belle is the girl of Young Ebenezer’s dreams, who falls for him but is strong and independent enough to walk away when he chooses work over her.

DICK WILKINS: Male, late teen or early twenties. Young Ebenezer’s best friend, an outgoing and confident young man..

FEZZIWIG: Male. Mr. Fezziwig is a huge personality who is loved by all and who wants nothing more than to share his success with everyone around him.

MRS. FEZZIWIG: Female, 40s or older. Much like Mr. Fezziwig, Mrs. Fezziwig is a big personality who turns everything she touches into a celebration.

CECELIA FEZZIWIG: Female, older teen. Mr. Fezziwig’s daughter.

Londoners:
TROWELL & TIBSHELF: Females. The Collecting women are somewhat lovable fops who finish one another’s sentences and have their sales pitch down to a science.
MRS.BALDOCK: Female. Owes Scrooge a debt that she cannot pay.
CAROLINE & LUCY: Female. Jane’s sisters. Guests at Fred’s party and one object of Topper’s affections.
CHARWOMAN: Female. Scrooge’s miserable housekeeper
OLD JOE

LAUNDRESS
TOPPER
TURKEY BOY/CAROLER
IGNORANCE: Boy. A creepy phantom of a child that torments Scrooge

THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST played by @TheSilentInfluence
THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT played by @Lady_Belligerent
THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS YET TO COME played by the Master of Many Names, played by me @Sinrebirth!



[Post Two of Three]

 

GM/Casting Directors Approved!

Role: Ebenezer Scrooge
Character Name: Aryan Graul
Origin Game: Dark Reach Series
Appearance:

(Bellorum insisted on taking professional headshots… much to his chagrin)

Read The Directors A Line:

It wasn’t the most ideal of situations, but he had begrudgingly agreed to the stipulations as a favor. It came with the territory; compromise and sacrifice. He had mastered that trait after a long and storied career in public service, and in this instance, it applied to married life as well. He was only here to indulge his wife.

Bellorum had recently taken an active role in promoting the humanities, including art, literature, and theatre. What began as a broad outreach program soon blossomed into a thriving community of talented individuals from all corners of the galaxy. It had become a lucrative business in its own right, but Bell still felt that it was prudent to expand. That’s when she suggested that they directly take part in the various projects. She claimed that it would help bolster their public image and provide a more cultured experience.

Naturally, Aryan had protested; he wasn’t an actor, and he certainly couldn’t paint or sing. But then she gently reminded him that as a politician, he had acted to some extent all of his life. It was in the very nature of an accomplished statesman. Instead of performing on the galactic stage to persuade his political rivals, he would do so in front of a nightly audience for entertainment.

He couldn’t argue with that. The logistics were very similar. In that sense, Bell had won.

And so, he accepted the challenge to audition for A Christmas Carol. While he wasn’t entirely familiar with the source material, the part of the disgruntled old man, Ebenezer Scrooge, had merit. In particular, he found the character the most intriguing. He could have some fun with the man’s more adverse personality traits, and once he began rehearsing, it was truly remarkable how quickly he embraced the whole process. It came quite naturally. Bellorum had been right in that respect—but he still wasn’t ready to openly admit that to her. For the moment, he would relish in his own personal victories.

Aryan held onto that thought as he entered the studio at the designated time. He wasn’t expecting much out of this session. As an untrained amateur, it was unlikely that he would actually succeed in procuring the part, but at least it would fulfill his obligations to Bellorum. She had to give him credit for that much. If he was honest with himself, maybe he even wanted to fail. It would save him further embarrassment in the future.

Nevertheless, he maintained his confidence as he handed the script to an aide and noted his cue in the text.



When the young man nodded and retreated to the wings, Aryan proceeded to take his place on center stage, where an antique desk awaited him. He sat down and stared pensively at the polished wood beneath his hands to mentally prepare himself.

Finally, the director indicated that they were ready to begin:

"I only want to wish you a Merry Christmas, Uncle," the aide provided in a flat monotone as he read the part of Scrooge’s nephew, Fred. "Don’t be cross."

"What else can I be when I live in such a world of fools as this?" Aryan grumbled in a guttural tone, adopting a refined Coruscanti accent. Slowly, he glanced up from the desk to regard the speaker under a hooded gaze. "Merry Christmas… out with Merry Christmas!"

Without warning, he slammed his fist down on the desk, the force of the impact upsetting an old-fashioned inkwell and quill prop. "What’s Christmas to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older but not an hour richer."

With a scoff, he kicked back from his chair and rose to his feet.

"If I could work my will," he paused to gesture to his chest with his right hand, "every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart!"

He finished in a fit of unrestrained fury, his voice echoing from the rafters and spittle flying from his mouth and gathering in his beard.

For a moment, he merely breathed and stared intensely into the wings, utilizing the silence for dramatic effect.

 

THE GM SHEET!

Role: The Ghost of Christmas Past
Character Name: The Master of Masters
Origin Game: Kingdom He - oh, you meant here. Between Epitaphs, of course.
Appearance:
Read The Directors A Line: Ominous Pointing

 

Approved!

THE SHEET!

Role: The Ghost of Christmas Present
Character Name: Bellorum Graul
Origin Game: Dark Reach
Appearance:



Read The Directors A Line:

Bell waltzed into the studio with a young man trailing her, he carried her props and a small table.

She curtsied before @Sinrebirth and @TheSilentInfluence, “good afternoon,” Bell greeted her fellow RPF family. “Today I shall be reading a part from Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, specifically the role of The Ghost of Christmas Present.

Bellorum bowed and went over to the table her assistant had placed, she picked up a thick script and shoved it to the man. Giving him a scowl she said, “read Scrooge, and don’t you dare out shine me,” she warned him.

The Dark Lady poured a large crystal glass of wine and took a large drink to clear her throat before speaking.

Her voice was strong and clear:

“Come over here, you weird little man! I am the Spirit of Christmas Present. Now, look upon me. You have never seen the like of me before.”

She stared at the aid, he fumbled the script and read his line: “Never.”

Bell spoke her part from memory:

“Yet how many of my brothers have you rejected in your miserable lifetime?”

Her eyes bored into the poor guy:

“I have never met any of your brothers, uh…sir.”

“Ma’am,” Bell prompted him, and then went right into her next line gesturing grandly:

“You have never looked for them!”

The young man was prepared this time:

“How many of them are there?” He read from the script.

Bell: “What year is this?” She asked playfully.

The man read: “Eighteen-hundred and sixty.”

Bell took a large drink of the wine and sloshed a bit motioning with her glass: “Then I have eighteen-hundred and fifty-nine brothers. Each year at this time, one of us visits this puny little planet to spread some happiness, and to remove as many as we can of the causes of human misery. Which is why I have come to see you, Ebenezer Scrooge.”

Bellorum curtsied, finished off the wine and tossed the crystal goblet over her shoulder.

Fin

 

looks up from his file

So we have potential offerings for Tiny Tim and I believe someone's will be targeting the Fezziwig's soon.

Fred was fought over by three, but we went with the first.

Understudy roles may be considered!

 

Walks in and hands Sinre a sheet of flimsi.
I’m aware of interest in Jacob Marley.

 

paws through the script

Do we have enough for a rehearsal? Any more auditions to chase down?

 

If you look to the second post, a cast list is relatively up to date!

 

GMs Approved

Role: Mr and Mrs Fezziwig
Character Name: Animal - Drummer Electric Mayhem (played by darthbernael), Janice - Lead guitar Electric Mayhem (played by Adalia-Durron)
Origin Game: The Muppets
Appearance:





The Directors A Line:

Bouncing around on the end of the chain that usually kept him from tearing into things, surprised that anyone could hear any of the lines being spoken over his deep and loud breathing, Animal waited his turn. When those doing the casting finally reached him he barked out a laugh then straightened as best he could, miming holding the edges of a dress coat,

“He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil.”

“I wanna play Fezzi..fezwi..fezziwig…PAARRR…TAAYYY!”

“Chill Animal……………dude………you need to bring it down man. I’m here man to try out for Mrs Fezziwig, I can mellow out that old lady.”

 

It's not exactly the same, but we do have something planned this year—with any luck, it even has the potential to run into the winter months beyond the holidays. We'll have to see how things go. For now, I'm actively working on putting together an OP, so look for that to pop up soon. I would say within the next week or so.