Send in the Elves

SEND IN THE ELVES

(Formerly known as CANCEL CHRISTMAS - a musical play for children and adults of all ages) 

Book by Sam Younghans
Music & Lyrics by Paula Samonte & Sam Younghans

Flasher

Interested in producing the play? Contact Paula for more information and rights.

A note from the original author, 

Sam Younghans...

The Style of Cancel Christmas

The first draft of Cancel Christmas was written for children to perform, although later productions used older people for the main roles. It was written with little time for revisions, because the first act was written in the middle of November for a December production. The children, who had been in the writer’s acting class, were the cast. They were responsive, attentive and committed. They were in rehearsal while the second act was being written. The response of the production was good and it was requested for the following year.

At that point, the writer started revising and improving the script. Watching the many productions helped mold the play - each successive year, revisions were added or items dropped. The concept was to have a play that would emulate the Christmas spirit of the twenties, thirties and the forties. Those years were wonderful years for Christmas. The songs and stories written during that era are timeless; the standards of today’s Christmas.

The writer wanted Cancel Christmas to be of that era. He wanted to bring out the love and caring of Santa, Mrs. Santa and the elves, in contrast with Bogwig and the evil trolls. There would be no toys that emulated violence or hate, no arguing or dissension among the elves. The elves wanted to help Santa, they followed Gribby, who was Santa’s right hand man. There were no frowns, arguing or acts of frustration. Santa’s works shop was a happy, warm, loving place. The elves were alive with excitement and energy; an example for the children.

For contrast, Bogwig and the trolls, were evil, argumentative, hateful and menacing. The chant "Bring Back the Bad" was written in the first draft - it shows the evil, with humor, in a melodramatic style. Audiences laugh and applaud it. The response of the audiences at all productions has been excellent.

Paula Samonte, helped with the first three years of the production in Sonoma, California. Paula is a professional singer and actress. She knew the flavor of the play and wrote the songs with that in mind. The songs are repetitious, and simple with a familiar sound. This was done with the children in mind. The songs show the love and caring of Santa, Mrs Santa and the elves. Because they are simple and familiar, children remember them. And, they will remember Cancel Christmas.

A note to directors:

As you know, each director has his own concepts and inspirations that are brought into the direction of a play. That is good, as long as the theme and feelings of the play as envisioned by the writer are not changed to the point of being a new and different play. That is the reason publishers set the rules, about revisions and cuts, and that is the reason I wrote this little introduction. If you enter into this production with the knowledge and goal of the play, any concepts or changes you bring in, will only help the play convey that feeling.

I hope you enjoy directing this play as much as I have enjoyed writing it, and seeing it in production.

Sam Younghans