IN SANTA’S WORKSHOP

In the background we can see a close window on the left, and it is snowing outside. There is a close door, with a wreath on, on the right. In the middle of the stage there is a long table with plenty of toys on. On the left of the stage there are shelves with empty boxes on a side and ready presents on the other.Around the table there are 9 busy elves checking the toys or preparing the presents with the checked toys.1elf is going from 1 friend to another to gather the wrapped toys in a basket and gives them to the 1 who is writing the names of the children and tying the labels on the presents. Under the table, near each elf there is a big box with the kind of toys each one is checking.

Timmy (bearded and dressed in dark green – checking the teddy bears) aren’t these bears so tender and absolutely irresistible ? Blue as the sky or yellow as the sun, green as the grass or white as the snow… I’m sure the children will be really happy to find them in their shoes ! Oh, you can take this purple one Bell, it is ok. (Bell takes it, looks at it and puts it carefully in his basket and Timmy takes another teddy from his box)

Bell (plenty of little bells on his cap and dressed in light green) I’m so glad to be an elf ! I can enjoy all the toys !

Jane (long dark-haired and dressed in pink – checking the dolls) and these dolls are so cute ! There are of all sizes and their clothes are so beautiful… I would like to be a little girl… I can imagine their joy and hear them laugh ! Please Bell take this small blonde doll. (Bell takes it, looks at it and puts it carefully in his basket and Jane takes another doll from her box)

Gaby (round glasses and dressed in yellow – checking board games) this year the board games are really new and some are so different from the last year ones ! Look at this one : you mustn’t say some words when you describe something… Maybe Santa will accept to let us play with… (puts the last card in the box and closes it, gives it to Bell and takes another game from his box)

Bell I’m sure he will and we will have a lot of fun ! (finally puts the box in the basket)

Jack (with curly hair and a moustache and a curly beard – dressed in orange – checking cars, trucks, planes, boats and trains) Well, I prefer these cars and wooden trains… I travel with them all over the world and all year long… I imagine the countries Rudolph has told me about… (picks up on the table 3 other toys he has checked yet and gives them to Bell who puts them in his basket. Jack takes some others in his box)

Lucy (a pony tail and dressed in light blue – checking plastic jewels) These jewels are so bright ! And look at these pearls ! This necklace is really elegant ! And there is a ring and a bracelet to match it… Another impatient girl who will be joyful ! You can take this set Bell, everything is ok. (puts the necklace in its small box, closes the box she gives to Bell who puts it in the basket. Takes another set of jewels in her box)

Steven (no beard or moustache and dressed in dark blue – checking books) This book of tales is fantastic ! There are a lot of colored pictures and plenty of characters. The one I prefer is the big bad wolf who is finally punished… I am sure the kind child who will find this book will open wide eyes to see everything and to read alone all these stories. I wonder which one will become his favourite… (closes the book, puts it in Bell’s basket and chooses another one in his box)

Eddy (bald and a long nose, dressed in light brown – checking happy family cards) Hey boys ! Look ! This is a happy family game with elves and other dwarves ! (all the elves turn their head to him) Aren’t they cute ? (shows a card) This card looks like me ! (shows another card) And this one is Lucy ! (shows another card) And…

Snow (the oldest – white hair and beard – dressed in turquoise – tying a yellow label on a present) Eddy ! Time is running and we must prepare all the presents ! Santa mustn’t be late and the children have been waiting for days now… Let’s check and wrap !

Bell (sighing) You’re right Snow but how funny these cards are ! And as usual we’ll be ready ! Hey, look ! Rudolph is at the window !

All the elves turn their heads to the window and wave to Rudolph who brightly smiles back to them, then quietly walks away.

Jane Well, let’s go on preparing the presents. Santa is as impatient as the children and we all are. We want to see the children happy and playing, don’t we ?

Santa (opening the door joyfully) Ho ho ho dear elves ! How are you ? You’re doing good work, aren’t you ? I love these boxes with colors and ribbons. Don’t forget to put stars on the paper when you have wrapped the toys ! Ho ho ho ! Have you seen Rudolph ? I’d like to check the sleigh with him !

Snow Oh yes Santa ! We’ve just seen him behind the window ! He was going to your house !

Santa Ho ho ho ! Thank you my dear elves ! I’m going to ask my wife to prepare some hot chocolate for you ! Ho ho ho ! (shuts the door and starts calling Rudolph)

Gaby (enthusiastically) Let’s go on checking and wrapping ! I look forward to playing with this board game ! Aren’t you happy to play like human children ?

Timmy (putting a wrapped toy on the table and taking another one) Of course we are ! That way we can share their joy !

Lucy (checking a new set of jewels) We can imagine how they feel playing with all what we have made and prepared for them !

Jack (moving like if he was dancing) How exciting our job is ! How I like being a Santa’s elf !

All the other elves (happily) So do I ! Let’s work now !

They work again singing “Jingle Bells”. Bell gives wrapped boxes to Snow who checks the children’s names and writes them on the labels he ties on the ribbons. The others check and wrap the toys. From time to time Santa’s loud joyful ‘Ho ho ho !’ can be heard outside. The clock on the wall shows 3:20 pm. 10 minutes later laughter can be heard outside and the door is opened again. Twins, Popsy and Pepsy, appear on the threshold. They are dressed in beige with colored ribbons on their cap.

Popsy and Pepsy (greatly and mysteriously smiling) Hi dear friends ! Guess what !

Popsy (excited) Some friends …

Pepsy (continuing his brother’s sentence)… of ours have …

Popsy (going on the same sentence) … come to visit us !

While they are speaking Frosty - the snowman, the Blue Fairy, Gabriel - the angel, and La Befana [a character linked with Italian Christmas] – a gentle and old witch dressed in very old black clothes and shoes and always smiling – arrive behind them. The twins walk into the workshop followed by the new characters greatly smiling.

The 4 new characters Hello all of you ! Glad to be here with you !

The 9 elves in the workshop Hi dear dear friends !

Steven What a wonderful surprise ! Welcome in the busiest workshop in the world !

Pepsy And Santa’s cousin, St Nicholas, …

Popsy … will soon arrive …

Pepsy … with his horse Cinder !

Frosty (opening his arms) Mamma Santa has prepared hot chocolate with vanilla ! Can you smell it ?

Gaby (with bright eyes) And I’m sure the Blue Fairy has brought her delicious Christmas puddings !

Jane (laughing) And I guess creamy yule logs on the table…

Eddy Oh ! What a menu ! But we haven’t finished our work !

Snow Eddy is right. We are left a lot to do. Let’s work a little more and we’ll come later to enjoy your wonderful stories. Let’s say in an hour.

Gabriel (winking at Snow) You’ll all come with us now and we’ll all help you after a little rest. Isn’t that a good idea ?

Bell I’m sure we’ll go faster with your help ! (She puts her basket on the table) Please Snow let’s go with them ! I’m looking forward to tasting an enormous piece of cake !

Snow (putting his pen and labels on his desk) Alright ! Alright ! Why not after all ? We’ve been working for hours … and I must confess I’ll enjoy some rest with our friends !

Gabriel What about making some snow angels ?

Frosty And an enormous snowman ? with a hat, a scarf and a broom !

Jack And what about a fight with snowballs ?

La Befana And we’ll help you to decorate the tree and the crib ! With holly and mistletoe !

Eddy And we’ll make wreaths with pine cones and ribbons !

Lucy And pearls and snowflakes ! Stars, colors from the rainbow and fluffy cotton from bright white clouds !

Popsy and Pepsy (dancing) Of course ! All very good ideas ! Santa and Mamma Santa are waiting for us now ! I like to drink my chocolate hot ! Let’s go !

All Yipee !

Hand in hand they all left the stage dancing and singing ‘Jingle Bells’.

Rudolph (walking into the empty workshop) I love Christmas time. Happy and merry Christmas to all of you and everywhere in the world ! May your heart be full of joy and light ! (He walks out of the workshop singing ‘Jingle Bells’)

HO HO HO !