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After the curtain has fallen for the last time you can fetch the presents Father Christmas has for you see the end of this webpage or click on Santa's little helpers |
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FATHER CHRISTMAS
All sleeping I see. They all want to keep awake to see me. But they don't realise its part of the Magic of Christmas that the only way I can come is when they are fast asleep. Now then, who have we got here?
He comes last to Cephas
Ah yes, Cephas, A very special present for Cephas. And long may he continue to grow in health and strength to enjoy it.
My next stop is the Wormwood Scrubs Prison and then there's Buckingham Palace.
Then is heard a joyous crash of church bells followed by the carol 'Christians Awake'
The audience may be encouraged to join in but the children on stage remain sleeping as it gets steadily lighter.
They wake slowly, one at a time, their cries of delight as they unpack their gifts awakening others.
PETER: Oh my, I have had such a funny dream. I dreamt
I was looking for Father Christmas but I never found him.
JANE: You must have done, look.
She points to the gifts at his feet, and they both begin unwrapping their respective gifts
PETER: Oh, that's just what I have been wanting.
JANE: But what is it?
PETER: It's an electric calculator.
JANE: How nice! (But her face registers it must be
perfectly awful)
CHILDREN: (Variously, as they unwrap)
Come on wake up, look at this.
My favourite book.
I have always wanted a sewing set.
Look at my train set.
I have got a model farm yard.
Yippee. Football boots.
Oh, I have got a tennis racquet.
etc. etc.
By now they are moving about absorbed in their own and each other's gifts until suddenly ...
PETER: I say, Cephas is still asleep.
CAROLIE: Let's wake him up.
JOHN: But look here, Father Christmas has only given him
one present.
JANE: It looks a funny sort of present for a crippled
boy.
She peers into the bag.
JANE: I thought so. (Disgustedly) It's a football.
ALL: (Variously)
A Football.
What a shame.
Why he can't play with it.
Its no use to him.
Father Christmas must be bonkers.
etc. etc.
JANE: And its the only present he has got.
SUSAN: Look, I have an idea.
They crowd on her
SUSAN: There are seven of us. We have all got lots
of presents, so why don't we each give one to Cephas?
JOHN: Crumbs, we have only just got our presents and now
you want us to give them away.
SUSAN: Only one. Besides, have you forgotten the Secret
of Christmas which The Good Fairy gave us?
ALL: (Variously, looking at each other in confusion
and embarrassment)
Well.
Oh whew!
etc. etc.
JOHN: Well, if its a secret we are not supposed to talk
about it are we?
JANE: Well we all know about it so it can't be all that
secret can it?
PETER: Hey, I tell you what, let's all shout it out so
that everyone can hear. Right, ready...
They advance front and face the audience
PETER: ...One!...Two!...Three!
ALL: ALWAYS THINK OF OTHERS FIRST!
SUSAN: Come on then everybody. One each.
They advance and place their
gifts where Cephas continues to sleep.
As they do Cephas begins to stir.
CEPHAS: Such a funny dream. Father Christmas...
JOHN: Yes we know and you never found him.
CEPHAS: But how do you know?
JOHN: We were all there weren't we? Or we all had the
same dream, which is the same thing.
JANE: Happy Christmas Cephas.
CHILDREN: (This becomes general) Happy Christmas
Cephas.
CEPHAS: Oh, Happy Christmas everybody. I am feeling really
terrific.
JANE: (Glancing doubtfully at the others) The thing
is Cephas we saw Father Christmas had only given you a football
so we collected some presents for you. A football is no use if
you are a cripple is it?
CEPHAS: (By turns bewildered and suffused with joy)
No I suppose not, but you know, its a strange thing but my legs
feel funny.
He suddenly shouts
CEPHAS: HEY, ITS A MIRACLE! My legs have come back! I can use my legs again!
He leaps out of bed and capers about madly as the others cheer and scream with delight
JOHN: (Above the noise) So we did find Father Christmas after all
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