Director: Janina Frankum (548-2218)
Agnes residents of an old people's rest home lament that Christmas is not what it used to be. Then they decide to do something about it.
Thelma – Rest Home Resident Daisy Gammage
Delores – Rest Home Resident Irma Davis
Agnes-Rest Home Resident Pat Peters
Runtime: 10 Minutes
Thelma: Well, here comes another Christmas.
Delores: Yep.. Here it comes.
Agnes: I can hardly wait.
Thelma: So what are you doing this year.
Delores: Same as last year, sitting and waiting, watchin’ “It’s a Wonderful Life”… love that movie. How about you?
Thelma: (sarcastically) Kids are coming… What a thrill.. I can hardly wait. Last Christmas my Christmas trip landed me in this lovely new home. Maybe this year my little darlings will get me a straight jacket.
Agnes: Thelma, you should be ashamed. Well I will be going to the Christmas Program at the church. Supposed to be a real doozie this year..
Thelma: Gosh, I remember when Christmas was exciting.
(Voices start to get more excited as they reminisce)
Delores: Yeah.. I remember that western Flyer I got..
Agnes: You bet.. They were the best…
Thelma: And my first BB Gun… shot my dad right in the keester
Delores: I got my first Madame Alexander Doll. She was so beautiful.
Agnes: I got a beautiful tea set complete with the pitcher and all. My little sister drank more hot water than you would believe while I practiced being the consummate hostess. I sure loved that tea set.
Thelma: It sure would be nice if we could bring back those days…
Agnes: And why can’t we???
Delores:
Because they’re gone Thelma and we’re too old!?!?!?!
Thelma: Hey, speak for yourself. I’m no spring chicken but I still gotta lot of life left in me…much to my kids’ disappointment.
Agnes: Oh please… All we have to do is find a way to make it happen.. Look at that tree.. It’s awful.. It’s got no life..
Thelma: Could it be because it’s artificial???
Agnes: No, it’s because it needs some decorations that mean something.. Put on some music.
Delores: What do you want???
Agnes: What do you think I want??? Give me some cheery Christmas music. Some decorating music.
Delores: I’ve got just the thing
Thelma; So what do we do??
Agnes: We turn back the clock.. We remember what made Christmas Christmas.. The smells.. The sounds… (start music) Now that’s the way to do it..
Delores: What smells are you talking about?
Agnes: Think back… What smells do you remember?
Delores: Popcorn.. Hot Popcorn.. and Cider.. Fresh Cider.. and cookies baking.
Agnes: Now we’re cooking with gas. What else?
Thelma: Carolers… I wish we had carolers. That was so much fun hearing them and singing with them.
Agnes: Why can’t we have carolers?
Thelma: No Thelma wants to come to a rest home like this. Just look around…
Agnes: Yeah, just look around. All these old people and no excitement. Well, we’re going to change that. We’re going to have a party with music and singing and cranberries and....
Thelma: Pumpkin Pie and Egg Nog and
Delores: (singing) “Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire”.
(All laugh)
Agnes: I think we’re starting to get the feel. But something’s still missing.
Thelma: My teeth… where did I put them?
Agnes: No… Something more important…
Thelma; You try and eat turkey with no choppers. Although I have gummed an ear of corn to death.
Agnes: No… No… No..
Delores: I’ve got it…
Agnes: What’ is it?
(Delores opens the Bible and begins reading the Christmas story)
Thelma: Now THIS is Christmas
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©
Michael Humphrey, All rights reserved.
This play may be performed free of charge, on the condition that copies are
not sold for profit in any medium, nor any entrance fee charged. In exchange
for free performance, the author would appreciate being sent a bulletin of the
performance, or an audio track if possible. He may be contacted at: mjhumphrey_58@yahoo.com