Calendar of Events for
Huntington Beach,
California
CANCEL CHRISTMAS - A musical play
Book by Sam Younghans
Music & Lyrics by Paula Samonte & Sam Younghans
December 20, 21, 22, 2005
Huntington Beach Playhouse, 7111 Talbert Ave. (Central Library Theater)
Huntington Beach, CA Times: 3 & 7 p.m. each day. Call: (714)
375-0696.
BEFORE CURTAIN: start Christmas music fifteen minutes before
curtain. Cue music so that symphony music begins playing five minutes before
curtain opens.
AT FIVE MINUTE CUE: Enter Clown (Mime) to apron L. Crosses C. looking at
audience. Begins to conduct the music. Does comic bits related to the music.
At end of music, Clown asks audience if they want him to open the curtain.
Teases them a little and then crosses to curtain to open it. Struggles with
curtain, can't open it. Turns to audience and shrugs. Has idea; crosses L.
picks up an imaginary rope or pole, returns C. , and attempts pulling or
prying the curtain open. Narrator enters R. . Sits in rocker, sees Clown,
clears his throat to get the Clown's attention. Shakes his head and motions
to the Clown to come over to him. Clown scratches his head and then crosses
to Narrator who motions for him to sit down beside him. Clown sits on the
floor. Narrator opens book and begins to read the opening of "CANCEL
CHRISTMAS":
NARRATOR
For as long as anyone can remember the North Pole has been the home of Santa
Claus. Every Christmas Eve, Santa and his reindeer travel over the rooftops
delivering gifts to children around the world. He and his helpers, who are
mostly elves, work all year long making toys and presents for Christmas.
They love their job, knowing the joy their work will bring to the children.
It is fun for them, and they have always finished on time for Santa's
deliveries. But there was one year, not so long ago, that Santa almost
missed Christmas.
It happened on a dark, wintry night only a few days before Christmas. That
night, cold gusty winds from the North caused the falling snow to swirl and
drift around Santaland. But Santa's house, his workshop and the barns where
he kept the sleighs and the reindeer formed a courtyard, a protective circle
that tamed the wind and the snow. A light from a large window of the
workshop fell warmly across the white floor of the courtyard and illuminated
the flakes of snow as they fell. There were only a few days left; it was
going to be a very white Christmas.
Inside the workshop a bright fire crackled in the large fireplace. The elves
were working on the toys, doing the many little chores that needed to be
done by Christmas Eve. They were painting faces on the dolls, putting wheels
on the wagons and runners on the sleds, making hats for the wooden soldiers,
sorting the games, and much, much more. Santa sat at his desk checking his
list of children, while Mrs. Santa sat in a rocking chair near the fireplace
sewing him a new hat. She frequently visited the workshop when she wasn't
busy at home. Though busy, the workshop was cozy and peaceful.
Narrator closes book, hands a crank handle to the Clown who takes it to the
curtain Right, and cranks open the curtain (if there is no curtain, lights
can come slowly up on the stage.) When curtain is open exit Clown.
MORE FROM Cancel Christmas, the book
Santa scratched his head, "The list checks out," he said, "I wish I knew
what is bothering me."
As always, he checked his list twice. There were more children in the world
now, and each year Santa's orders grew bigger and bigger. Overlooking a
child was his biggest fear.
The workshop was quiet. Everyone was concentrating on the final details. As
Santa put down his list, a loud knock on the outside door startled everyone.
They all stopped their work and listened. It was rare for anyone to visit
the workshop. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Gribby said, "I'll get it Santa."
Santa scratched his head, "I wonder who that could be. We don't get many
visitors up here."
As Gribby opened the outside door, a gust of cold wind pushed snow into his
eyes. When he cleared them, the doorway was empty. He stepped out into the
courtyard, then peered over to the barn and down to Santa's house ...
Nothing ... There was no one in sight. Upon returning, he saw a note pinned
to the door. With the note in his hand he entered the workshop and went
immediately to Santa.
"Who was knocking on the door, Gribby?"
"I don't know, Santa. No one was there, but I found this note stuck on the
door; it's addressed to you."
"Hmm! Let's see what this is all about."
As Santa read the note, his face showed confusion and alarm. Jumping to his
feet, he grabbed his hat and coat from the rack and rushed outside into the
snow. Gribby and the elves ran to the window.
Lolly, who was in charge of making the lollipops, picked up the note that
had fluttered to the floor and joined the others at the window. Santa plowed
through the snow, went straight to the barn and immediately hitched Flasher
to the one-horse-open-sleigh. He jumped into the sleigh and they were gone
in a flash of light.
There were two reasons Santa called this reindeer Flasher: he was very fast
and his fur glowed in the dark. Many a dark Christmas Eve, Flasher lit the
way for Santa. Some people said that if you saw a shooting star on Christmas
Eve, there was a good chance that it was Flasher leading Santa Claus and his
reindeer to the children around the world.
Candy, who was in charge of the candy canes, said, "I wonder where he is
going, in such a rush?"
Coco, one of the older elves, exclaimed, "Yes, where is he going and why?
This is very strange."
Tweet, who always had new ideas, added, "He went past his house without
stopping."
Lolly, who was behind the other elves, was jumping up and down in order to
see out of the window. Finally, he said, "Gribby! Santa dropped this note.
Maybe it will explain why he ran out in such a hurry."
Gribby read the note. "Oh! This is terrible. Listen to this: 'We have taken
Mrs. Santa. If you want to see her again, cancel Christmas.' It's signed,
Bogwig-Of-The-North."
The elves, cried out, "Bogwig! Bogwig-of-the-North! The king of the evil
trolls!"
"Yes! He lives in The-Great-Ice-Caves beyond the North Pole," said Gribby,
"He is the king of the meanest bunch of trolls in all of the land. I have
never seen him, but I hear he is a very evil man."
The elves moaned and groaned; they feared for Santa's safety.
