MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- "Bah humbug!" It is a timeless expression that conjures up thoughts of the fictitious miser known as Ebenezer Scrooge. A Christmas Carol, the classic story by author Charles Dickens, has been remade over and over again. It has been redone in film, television and the theater. "The story (A Christmas Carol) actually created our modern idea of Christmas. It influences Christmas, it is part of Christmas and it reminds us that there is more to Christmas than shopping or an eating festival," said Paul Stebbings, artistic director of The American Drama Group Europe. The American Drama Group Europe, a theatrical production company performing A Christmas Carol, was concluded the four-week tour of Japan, putting on productions in universities and theatres in the cities of Tokyo and Kyoto. They also staged the production in Yakota Air Force base and here in Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni at the Sakura Theater, said Edward Jay, actor with the drama group. The group is now slated for six international productions in Czechoslovakia, Germany, Spain and Switzerland said Christian Flint, actor with the drama group. The entire tour began with just three weeks of rehearsal in New York. "This is our last performance in Japan. After a 10-day break we're heading to Madrid," said Flint. The story, set in London in the mid-1800s, deals with greed, poverty and redemption. It is a story about a rich and elderly miser who has lived his whole life with no "Christmas spirit" but through coming to terms with the realities of people in poverty, he realizes that there is much more to life than bank statements and checking accounts. "The spirit of the story promotes a good social feeling. The theme of the story is generosity and kindness. The story is exactly 150 years old but still very relevant to the times we are living in," said Flint, who played the part of Scrooge. Since they are currently on tour, and in different locations every other day, the sets are not as elaborate as it would be at their own theater in New York. But the simple backdrops, with only a limited amount of props leaves more for the imagination, said Flint. "The spirit of the performance is still there and the contact with the audience is there too." The production received standing ovations by the 50-person crowd at the Sakura Theater then the six-piece performers took their final bows. Jeannie Carmona, a theater buff who has seen many New York and London productions, feels that there should be more plays here at the Station. "I love the theater. The last time there was a show here was in July. There should be more plays in Iwakuni." The next slated performance here at the Station is sometime in 2004. It will be a production of the William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, said Flint.