So last night my kids were introduced to A Christmas Carol ala the Mickey Mouse version. At first I thought it would be too much for them (remembering my own introduction via Mr. Magoo), but it turns out to be a half hour thing that must be cut so drastically I can’t imagine it being all that meaningful. They seem to enjoy it, although the prospect of ghosts is a bit frightening to them. Afterward they don’t understand who the ghosts were, because all they saw were Goofy, Jiminy Cricket and an unnamed giant. Folks that know me by now know I didn’t miss the opportunity to explain that this is just the Mickey Mouse version of an older, grown up story by Charles Dickens. I liken Dickens to Shakespeare for them in the sense that it’s a “classic” that was written long ago, that they will study in school when they grow up, but for now at their age we show them the story in a way that they can understand it. It just so happens that I’ve got the audio CD of Patrick Stewart’s famous rendition of the story. Ever heard it? It’s quite tremendous, I try to break it out every year. I play that for the kids. Well, partially, as it is very long that way and they’ve only got attention spans so long. They do, however, start asking questions – who was Marley, oh was he the ghost? How come his face was on the door knob? What’s with the chains? I’m pleased. I do not bother explaining the Patrick Stewart / Shakespeare connection, I figure that’s a bit much for them :). HOWEVER, by some strange quirk of the universe I happen to have sitting on the shelf two of Shakespeare’s very own well known ghost stories, Manga Macbeth
The Giant’s name is Willy. Because I am not only a Shakespeare geek, but a Disney one.
Ya see, that Filthy Shakespeare stuff has ruined me, because now I cannot hear a word like “Willy” without snickering like a damned fool.
😉
What movie was the giant in? I’m tempted to guess Pete’s Dragon, but I don’t know why.