TAKING SANTA’S PLACE

Southland Times, Issue 24001, 16 December 1939, Page 5 (Supplement)

TAKING SANTA’S PLACE

A new play for you to act this Christmas (Continued from last week)

Miss Dressmaker: Six hundred and forty-nine more toys to make. Eleven thousand stockings to fill. Mr Piggoty (staring at her): And Pm expected to do that!

(There is a knock at the door, left, and in come four boys, overcoats covered with snow, shouting excitedly.)

Tallest boy: Hello, Santa! We came to see your reindeer! Smallest "Boy: Or do you have a car .and an airplane now? Mr Piggoty (with a braggy air): Oh, several cars and several airplanes! Yes, indeed! Pinky: He doesn’t know a thing about it! He’s only my Uncle Piggoty playing Santa Claus, so the real Santa can take a rest!

Next-To-Biggest-Boy: He’s playing Santa Clays! What a load of fun! Mr Piggoty: Do you want part of the job? I’ll never get it done! (He mops head with handkerchief.) Smallest Boy: I should say we do! I’ll drive the reindeer! Tinsel Picker (opening the door, right): Come right along and get some Santa clothes! (The boys troop off stage with the Tinsel Picker.) Mr Piggoty: How full do we fill these stockings? Miss Dressmaker: To the top and very bulgy. Mr Piggoty: I suppose there’s a good warm stove in the Sleigh? Toy Painter: I should say not! All the space is full of toys! Mr Piggoty: How'll I keep warm? Miss Dressmaker: Santa is so busy thinking about the ones he is making happy, he forgets about himself!

(The door, right, opens, and the boys march in wearing Santa suits, which they have had urider their overcoats. They have only had to take off overcoats and put on whiskers and red caps. Singing to the tune of “Farmer in the Dell,” they march round the stage, each carrying sleighbells. The Tinsel Picker following.) Boys: Hooray for Santa Claus! Hooray for Santa Claus! Christmas is here again. Hooray for Santa Claus! Fill the stockings up, And trim the Christmas tree. This is the Christmas shop Of Santa’s com-pan-ee! Mr Piggoty: Why doesn’t somebody help m fill stockings? (Smallest Boy goes to help him and begins eating the candy that is to be put in the stockings.) Toy Painter: The shed is full of things that need paint. (Next-to-the-Tallest Boy takes a paint bucket and brush and goes off stage, right.) Miss Dressmaker: Somebody can help me, too. (Next-to-Smallest Boy takes the clown’s Sleeve from the table, and starts pinning it in the clown’s suit.) Tinsel Picker: And here’s a tree to trim. (Tallest Boy moves a chair to the tree, and helps himself to tinsel. Everyone begins working, hands moving fast Miss Dressmaker puts finishing touches to Jap DolL They work busily for one minute.) Next-to-Smallest Boy: Ouch! I stuck my finger!

(He shakes finger. Next-to-Tallest Boy hurries in from right with a red waggon. He puts it down and hurries out again, sleeves rolled up, apron on, and paint brush in hand.)

Mr Piggot;.: This is quite a job, ain’t it? (Snaps finger and shakes head.) I should say wouldn’t it— I mean couldn’t it? (Yawns.) I’m getting tired! Smallest Bey: So am I. Toy Painter: You’ve only begun! Next-to-Smallest Boy (still at clown sleeve): Ouch!

Tinsel Picker (to Tallest Boy trimming tree): You’ve got all the trimming in one place! Tallest Boy: It’s the only place I can reach. Can 1 hop up and down and up and down and wear my legs all out? Next-to-Smallest Boy: Ouch! (Next-to-Tallest Boy runs in from right, bringing a brightly-painted sled, leaves it and runs off stage again. Next-to-Smallest Boy has finished the clown sleeve. Now he puts on the clown’s hat and neck ruff.) Next-to-Smallest Boy: There! He s done! (Clown begins clapping cymbals.) * Clown: Ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha! Next-to-Smallest Boy: I’ll never give him away. I’ll keep him for mine! _ , Smallest Boy: Oh, oh! I have the stomach ache! Oh, oh! Pinky: No wonder. You’ve eaten at least three pounds of candy! Smallest Boy (doubling up, rubbing his tummy): Oh, oh! Somebody’s got to put me to bed! (A clock strikes one.).

Tallest Boy (coming down from chair): One o’clock! Somebody can put me to bed, too! I’m sleepy! Next-to-Smallest Boy: I think I'll take my clown and go right straight home. Mr Piggoty: Who’s going to da all this work. I’d like to know! Next-to-Tallest Boy (coming in from right with rocking chair): Somebody else can paint now. I’ve done three. That’s my share! Smallest Boy: I’m sick! I’ve got an awful stomach ache!

Tallest Boy; I can’t hold my eyes open five minutes longer! Smallest Boy: I—l—want to go home. (He whimpers.) Mr Piggoty: Yes, it’s time to go home, ain’t it? (Snaps finger and shakes head.) I mean—shouldn’t it—l mean hasn’t it? (He takes off Santa beard, and the boys take off their Santa Claus beards, too.) Pinky: But, Uncle, you said you'd be Santa Claus!

Mr Piggoty: I said I looked handsome in red and loved to go sleigh riding, but I didn’t say I’d work all night long! (Santa opens the door, right. He has on pyjamas, slippers, and nightcap.) Santa: What’s the trouble, anyway? Tinsel Picker: Here are five people starting to be Santa Claus and none of them is willing to finish!

Santa: I didn’t think they’d want to. Well, never you mind. I will. Next-to-Smallest Boy: I want this clown!

Smallest Boy (with big cloth sack): I want the candy! I want the candy!

Toy Painter: Not one of you is unselfish enough to take Santa's place even one year! Each of you is thinking only of himself. You’ve forgotten all about the world of people you could make happy! Mr Piggoty: ’Pon my soul! That’s right, ain’t it! I mean—couldn’t it —I mean didn’t it? I guess we are selfish! Well—right now’s the time to improve, I can stuff a stocking and I’ll do the very best Lean!

Pinky: So will I! Just watch! Tallest Boy: I will too! (They start stuffing stockings.) The Doll: And I know a himdred others! (She reaches her hands to audience.) Who’ll help Santa? Please everybody who will fill a stocking for Santa this year, clap your hands! (She waits for them to clap their hands. I’m stire all of them will!) There! The whole world will!

Everyone on the Stage: Hooray! (Everyone begins to be busy. The Four Toys march jerkily, singing the last verse of the song. When they are done Mr Piggoty looks out at audience.)

Mr Piggoty: 'Pon my soul, it’s going to be a mighty fine Christmas—(He winks a big wihk.)— isn't it? And the curtain closes.