A Klingon Christmas Carol

The play opens in a classroom; a member of the Vulcan Institute of Cultural Anthropology begins a comparative lecture on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol and its Klingon counterpart tlhIngan ram nI' bom (Klingon Long Night's Song). The Vulcan Narrator is assisted by members of the Imperial Klingon Players, who proceed to act out the play. SQuja', a Klingon money lender, demonstrates a lack of courage and honor - refusing to participate in the "Year Games" and to provide assistance to the sons and daughters of fallen warriors. He is visited first by his deceased partner, marlI', who tells him that he will be visited by three spirits; these will prevent him from sharing marlI's fate of fighting without end and without glory. The first spirit to arrive - ben qeylIS qa' (Ghost of Kahless Past) takes him on a journey through his history - first at his school, then at the party of his former employer (veSIwIq) and finally to a moment shared with his former mate, bel. He is returned to his quarters and anxiously awaits the arrival of the next spirit.

Act II begins at the same moment Act I ended - with an off-stage voice (Ghost of Kahless Present) yelling SQuja's name. This spirit, DaHjaj qeylIS qa', bids SQuja' drink from the cup of Klingon courage and then shows him what is happening in his current time. They visit the meager feast of SQuja's assistant, QachIt, and his family - including tImHom, QachIt's son, who is crippled and unlikely to pass his Age of Ascension ritual without dying. Next SQuja' and the spirit attend the party of vreD (SQuja's nephew), which consists of a training tournament. Lastly, DaHjaj qeylIS qa' introduces SQuja' to quvHa'ghach (Corruption) and SaHHa'ghach (Apathy) - which spell doom for the Empire - before disappearing. He is replaced by the last spirit, pIq qeylIS qa' (Ghost of Kahless Yet-to-Come). This silent spirit shows SQuja' scenes of what may be - including the death of tImHom - before leaving SQuja' alone in an unfamiliar and unfriendly place. A parade of dead warriors make their way to what SQuja' assumes to be Sto-vo-kor (the Klingon Heaven) while SQuja' realizes the error of his dishonorable ways. SQuja' wakes up in his own bed, elated at the change within himself and proceeds to correct his previous indiscretions, including visits first to vreD and finally to the home of QachIt and tImHom.

Bat'leth fight from premiere production of A Klingon Christmas Carol in 2007 with Brian Watson-Jones as vred (left) and Scot Moore as Warrior 2 (right). Commedia Beauregard file photo.

The play was first produced in December 2007 at the University of Minnesota Saint Paul Student Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. A one-night-only event that also included a gala banquet and charitable auction, the night sold-out and was a success far beyond Commedia Beauregard's expectations.[8]

The cast was:

• Narrator - Nathaniel Churchill
• SQuja' (Scrooge) - Michael Ooms
• QachIt (Bob Cratchit) - Christopher Kidder-Mostrom
• 'emlI' (Mrs. Cratchit) - Jen Rand
• marDa' (Martha Cratchit) - Erin Haynes
• tImHom (Tiny Tim) - Himself (Operated by Scot Moore)
• vreD (Fred) - Brian Watson-Jones
• marja' (Mrs. Fred) - Laura Thurston
• marlI' (Jacob Marley) - Bill Hedrick
• Ghost of Kahless Past (Christmas Past) - Brian O'Neal
• Ghost of Kahless Present - Rob Withoff
• Ghost of Kahless Yet-To-Come - Laura Thurston
• qe'pa (a youth) - Brian Watson-Jones
• Qob (a youth) - Christopher Kidder-Mostrom
• Young SQuja' (Young Scrooge) - Scot Moore
• van (Fannie) - Jen Rand
• veSIwIq (Fezziwig) - Bill Hedrick
• wIlqInS (Dick Wilkins) - John Gregory
• bel (Belle) - Erin Haynes
• Weapon Merchant - Rob Withoff
• Seller - John Gregory
• Boy - Andrew Northrop
• Warriors - Andrew Northrop, Scot Moore, Jen Rand, Erin Haynes
• Guests - Brian O'Neal, Andrew Northrop, Bill Hedrick

2007 to 2010 by Commedia Beauregard

2014 by The Arts' Nest

2015 to 2018 by The Historic Mounds Theatre

2010 to 2014 by Commedia Beauregard
2016 to 2018 by E.D.G.E. Theatre[9]

2013 by Hugo West Theatricals[10]

2014 by WSC Avant Bard

2017 by Lit Live[11]

The original 2007 production of A Klingon Christmas Carol was designed by Derek Sandbeck (sound), Forest Godfrey (lights and projections), Laura Wilhelm (puppetry), Christopher Kidder-Mostrom (set) and Erin Haynes (costumes), with make-up and prosthetics by Bill Hedrick & Rob Withoff. In 2010, a new set of costumes was commissioned, designed by Jeff Stolz. These costumes were also used for the first Cincinnati production, in 2013. A new puppet was designed and constructed for the first Chicago production by Kat Pleviak, of Sea Beast Puppet Company.[12]

Beginning with the original production in 2007, the production design for A Klingon Christmas Carol included costumes reminiscent of medieval Earth and a very minimal set construction. Commedia Beauregard reinvented the production design for their 2013 production with costumes that had a more Victorian feel (by kClare Kemock[13]) and a multi-level set design (by Ian Mostrom).[14]

Sound design for the premiere production was provided by Derek Sandbeck. In 2010, a musical score for the play was commissioned for the first time. This score was composed by Mike Hallenbeck and used in the Minnesota and Chicago Productions. In 2011, a new score was commissioned and composed by Jon Silpayamanant. This score was used for the 2011 and 2012 Chicago productions, the 2013 Hugo West Theatricals production in Cincinnati, OH, and the 2014 WSC Avant Bard production in Washington D.C. Sound design and original music for the reimagined 2013 and final 2014 Commedia Beauregard Chicago productions and the 2014 The Arts' Nest production in Minnesota was provided by Joe Griffin, of Toxic Bag Productions.[15]