I was also due to be the main character in Scrooge once. But in a school assembly my mate behind me decided it would be a good idea to stick a needle into my neck, thus causing me to shout something along the lines of "Ahhhh f**k!!!". I was then no longer allowed to have the part.
Needless to say, the friend of mine got severe beatings (consisting of ruler slaps, nipple cripples, vicks in eyes...etc)