The White Christmas and other Merry Christmas Plays

By Walter Ben Hare

"The White Christmas and other Merry Christmas Plays" by Walter Ben Hare. Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Good Press
• Release date: Dec 2, 2019
• ISBN: 4057664599605

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Walter Ben Hare

The White Christmas and other Merry Christmas Plays

Published by Good Press, 2022

[e-mail]

EAN 4057664599605

Table of Contents

FOREWORD

CHILDREN IN PLAYS.

REHEARSALS.

DELAYS.

STAGE DIRECTIONS.

MUSIC.

THE WHITE CHRISTMAS

THE WHITE CHRISTMAS

A CHRISTMAS MORALITY PLAY IN ONE ACT.

CHARACTERS.

O COME, COME, AWAY.

WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS.

LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT

HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING.

CHRISTMAS CAROL.

THE WHITE CHRISTMAS.

REMARKS ON THE PRODUCTION.

ANITA'S SECRET OR CHRISTMAS IN THE STEERAGE

ANITA'S SECRET OR CHRISTMAS IN THE STEERAGE

A CHRISTMAS PLAY IN ONE ACT FOR SANTA CLAUS AND SIXTEEN CHILDREN.

CHARACTERS.

COSTUMES, ETC.

ARGUMENT.

REMARKS ON THE PRODUCTION OF THE PLAY.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE MULLIGAN'S

CHRISTMAS WITH THE MULLIGAN'S

A FUNNY CHRISTMAS PLAY IN THREE SHORT ACTS.

CHARACTERS.

ARGUMENT.

Act I.

Act II.

LETTER TO SANTA CLAUS.

Act III.

SPAGHETTI FROM OLD ITALY.

THE WISHING MAN

THE WISHING MAN

A CHRISTMAS WHIMSY FOR SWEETE CHARITIE.

IN THREE SHORT ACTS.

CHARACTERS.

Act I.

Act II.

Act III.

REMARKS ON THE PRODUCTION.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL OR THE MISER'S YULETIDE DREAM

A CHRISTMAS CAROL OR THE MISER'S YULETIDE DREAM

ADAPTED FROM CHARLES DICKENS' IMMORTAL STORY.

CHARACTERS.

Stave I.

Stave II.

Stave III.

THE SCENERY.

COSTUMES.

HER CHRISTMAS HAT

HER CHRISTMAS HAT

A FARCE IN ONE ACT.

CHARACTERS.

Dances, Drills and Story-Plays

Merry Monologues

Let's Pretend

A Book of Children's Plays

Impromptu Magic, with Patter

Winning Monologues

FOREWORD

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I N these little plays I have tried to bring before the public the two dominant characteristics of the ideal Christmas season, kindness, expressed by good will toward men, and the inward joy wrought by kind acts, and suggested by peace on earth. As Yuletide draws near we like to think of the swell of Christmas feeling, kindness, peace and good will, that rises like a mighty tide over the world, filling it with the fresh, clean joys and generous impulses that produce the peace that passeth understanding.

Some of the plays are filled with the spirit of fun and jollity that is always associated with Christmas merrymaking; in others I have tried to emphasize the spiritual blessings brought to the children of men on that first white Christmas night when Christ, the Lord, was born in Bethlehem, and all the angels sang, Gloria in excelsis, peace on earth, good will toward men.

CHILDREN IN PLAYS.

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The love of mimetic representation, either as a participant or as a spectator, is an ineradicable instinct of childhood and adolescence. Most of these plays call for a somewhat large number of children. This need not daunt the producer as the chief characters are few and many of the parts have very few lines to speak. Many extra children may be introduced in several of the plays, as a chorus. At Christmas time, the children's season, it is best to allow all who so desire to take part in the entertainment. Some of the parts are rather long, but all have been played by children of the age indicated in the text. Very little children have sometimes done remarkable work in the plays. I remember one instance when a very tiny Tiny Tim, who was not four years old, spoke his part correctly, was heard in every corner of the church and acted with a naturalness that was indeed remarkable.

REHEARSALS.

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First and foremost, do not over-rehearse your play. The chief charm in Christmas plays lies in their naturalness and simplicity, a part of which is almost sure to be lost if they have rehearsed the play until they have lost their wonder and excitement and enjoyment in the make-believe game of amateur theatricals.

The director's aim should be to establish a happy co-operation with the players that will make the whole production, rehearsals, dress rehearsals and final performance, a series of good times crowned by a happy, if not perfect, production. The director should always strive to be cheerful and happy, ever ready to give advice and ever ready to ask for advice, even from the youngest players. Take them into your confidence. Discuss color schemes, costuming, property making, lighting and scenic effects with your actors.

At the first rehearsal have the children listen to a reading of the play. Then read a short scene in detail, allowing each actor to read several parts. Try every child in every child's part before you make your final selection of the cast of characters. If it is possible, begin your second rehearsal on the stage where the play is to be given. Arrange chairs to represent entrances, doors, windows, etc., and have all properties on hand, in order to impress on the children's minds the necessity of learning the words and the action at the same time. At the third rehearsal the play should be given in its entirety, music, gestures, entrances, exits, groupings and crossing from one side of the stage to another at a given cue, etc. In fact, everything as in the completed production, except that the actors may use their copies of the play for reading the lines.

DELAYS.

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The director should make every effort to guard against stage waits and delays of every sort. Have your stage hands, prompter, property managers, scene painters and all your assistants on hand at every rehearsal, if possible. Long waits between the acts, tardiness in beginning the performance, and all delays do much to destroy an otherwise happy impression. Every piece of scenery, every costume, every bit of make-up and every property should be in its place—all ready to make a smooth final performance. Dress rehearsals are absolutely necessary. The last two rehearsals should be complete performances of the play with lights, curtains, costumes, make-up, scenery and all incidentals exactly as they are to be on the night of the performance.

With such preparation, scarcely anything is impossible of attainment. The pleasure of the work and the pride in a production well done will amply repay an ungrudging lavishment of time and labor.

Walter Ben Hare.

Drury College,

Springfield, Mo.

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STAGE DIRECTIONS.

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Stage directions are purposely simplified and few abbreviations used. R. means right of the stage: C., center; L., left, etc. The actor is supposed to be facing the audience.

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MUSIC.

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Music is provided for a few of the songs in this book. The others are to be sung to old airs that are presumably familiar to everyone. If any of them should prove unfamiliar, the music of all except some of the hymns will be found in Denison's "Songs Worth While," one of the best arranged and most carefully edited collections of old favorites ever published. This book is beautifully printed on non-glossy paper, measuring 7 by 10-1/4 inches, and is well bound in a stout paper cover done in colors. It may be obtained from the publishers for the price of $1.00, postpaid.

For all the hymns not included in "Songs Worth While," see any standard church hymnal.

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THE WHITE CHRISTMAS

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characters

Enlarge

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THE WHITE CHRISTMAS

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A CHRISTMAS MORALITY PLAY IN ONE ACT.

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Originally produced by the Quadrangle Club of the University of Missouri, Christmas Eve, 1909.

CHARACTERS.

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A Concealed Choir. The Prologue.

For description of costumes, arrangement of the scene, etc., see Remarks on the Production at the end of the play.

Time of Playing

—About One Hour.

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Scene I

: Before the play begins the

Prologue

steps in front of the curtains and addresses the congregation.

Prologue.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife....

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Exit

Prologue

.)

(Soft chimes. As these chimes die away in the distance a concealed choir is heard singing.)

O COME, COME, AWAY.

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(The front curtains are drawn, showing a winter street in Bethlehem. No one appears on the stage, but the choir continues singing outside at right front.)

Rachel

and

Priscilla

enter from the inn at right front, arm in arm. They go to the center, then to the rear of the stage, turn and face the inn, pause a moment or two, listening to the choir, and then go out at rear left. The choir continues:

While the choir is singing the last three lines of the song,

Simeon

and

Isaac

enter from rear left, leaning on their shepherd's crooks. They pause at rear center and listen to the singing. When the song is finished the organ continues the same music softly.

Simeon

.

Make haste, my son, the hour is waxing late,

The night is cold, methinks our sheep await.

Isaac

.

Nay gran'ther, I would liefer tarry here.

The town is gay, the inns are full of cheer.

Simeon

(points to rear right).

But there our duty lies, the wind grows cold!

Come, let's away and put the sheep in fold.

(Starts off right.)

Isaac

.

Nay, Simeon, wait! What means this crowd of men

And women here in peaceful Bethlehem?

Simeon

(comes to him).

Herod the King hath issued a decree

That each and all his subjects taxèd be;

And every one who in this town saw light

Must here return and register tonight.

From all Judea, aye, from th' distant land,

Each Bethlehemite must come at his command.

Isaac

(comes to the doorway of the inn and peers in).

The town is full of people, great and small,

Each inn is crowded to its very wall.

Simeon

(comes down center and takes his arm).

But come, we're wasting time, 'tis very late.

Make haste, my son, I know the flocks await!

Isaac

.

Thou speakest true, though I would rather stay,

Our duty calls, so to the hills, away!

(They go out at rear right.)

The concealed choir repeats the first stanza of the song softly. After a slight pause

Deborah

enters from the inn.

Deborah

(coming down to right front).

My inn is crowded to the doors. The heat

Is stifling, but out here the air is sweet.

(Looks upward.)

The bright stars twinkle with mysterious light,

Methinks there's something strange about the night.

She sits on the bench in front of the inn.

Timothy

enters from rear left.

Deborah

continues her soliloquy.

The air is still, the night is very cold,

The shepherds seek the hills to watch the fold.

(Sees him.)

(

Timothy

goes out at rear R.)

Deborah

.

Some strange, unearthly voice seems calling me,

Methinks this night portends great things to be.

Enter

Rachel

and

Priscilla

from rear right, then come down center and address the hostess.

Rachel

.

Hail, hostess of the inn, my cousin here

Hath lodgings at your inn. We'd seek its cheer.

Deborah

(rises).

Enter within. My guests tonight are gay

And fain would turn this winter's night to day.

Rachel

and

Priscilla

enter the inn, followed by

Deborah

. The organ music continues softly. After a slight pause enter

Anna

from rear left. She leads

Ruth

and

Thomas

by the hand.

Thomas

(at rear center).

Oh, mother, hark! There's music in the inn!

Anna

.

'Tis not for us—their noise and merry din.

Ruth

.

Our little town is crowded, joyous, gay.

Thomas

.

So many travelers came this way today.

Ruth

.

The night is chill and cold, I much do fear

The little sheep will shiver by the mere.

Anna

.

Too cold it is for thee, I fear, in truth,

Return and get thy cloak, my little Ruth.

We'll wait for thee upon