Christmas With The Krackers

Overview

Plot Summary

It’s Christmas Eve at the North Pole! (Song – ‘Ho! Ho! Ho! We’re Ready To Go’) The elves are too excited to sleep and beg an exasperated Mrs Claus to read them a bedtime story while they wait for Santa to return. To keep the peace, she recounts a story* called  ‘Christmas with the Krackers’, about a family in crisis, requiring some serious elf-help!

* Between each scene in the story (acted out on the main stage), we revisit the North Pole to catch up with Mrs Claus and the Elves and enjoy a brief musical summary of events so far, sung by the Elfettes.

So, in the Krackers’ house, out of sight and earshot of the human occupants, Curly the dog, Kitty the cat and a tattered, abandoned old Christmas tree fairy discuss the current Christmas Eve crisis. Mr Kracker, a busy environmental consultant, has lost his Christmas spirit, cancelling all festivities because ‘they are a waste of money and bad for the planet!’ Overhearing the pets’ and fairy’s discussion, the Elf on the Shelf…sorry, Gnome in Your Home (copyright issue!)…comes alive and alerts the big man himself, Santa Claus, as to the seriousness of the situation in the household! Song – ‘Code Red – 9 Double 0’

Siblings Charlie and Carys Kracker are also worried. Mum, who’s been away looking after her mother (Gran), is due home tomorrow and, because of Dad’s anti-Christmas attitude, nothing has been organised! Concerned for the children, Gnome again contacts Santa who agrees to send some Elf Special Agents to help. Song – ‘Christmas Magic’

As the magic takes effect, Charlie & Carys comically become aware that the Gnome and Fairy have come to life…and the dog and cat can talk! The first Elf Special Agent then arrives. It’s Nig-elf-a, the North Pole’s very own domestic goddess, who rustles up a tasty Christmas dinner from the meagre rations in the family’s fridge! Song – ‘A Christmas Pie’

It’s then time for the Christmas tree to be sorted, with the arrival of the next Elf Special Agent. It’s Sir David Elf-enborough, the North Pole’s one-and-only naturalist national treasure! With the help of some rather overheated polar bears, David Elf-enborough speaks to Mr Kracker in a dream and suggests a Christmas tree solution which is neither expensive nor bad for the planet. Song – ‘That Would Just Be Lovely’

The third and final Elf Special Agent arrives to tackle the decorations. Enter the flamboyant Laurence Llew-elf-en Bowen! He’s appalled at the state of the room, stating “It’s dismal, it’s Dickensian, it smells of dog!”. With the help of some ‘DIY XMAS’ elves and some home-grown holly and ivy from the garden, they give the room a fabulous, plastic-free, Christmas makeover. Song – ‘Fab-u-lous’

Grandad Kracker (Mr Kracker’s sprightly resident father) returns from one of his many outings that evening with some local carol singers, who sing a simple yet beautiful carol, reminding us of what Christmas is all about…finally! Song – ‘The Very First Christmas’

So, with things well and truly back on track, Mrs Kracker and Gran arrive on Christmas Day to a festive family home! The Elf Special Agents’ work is done and the enchantments fade – the dog and cat are no longer able to talk to the children, and the Gnome and Fairy become inanimate again. With Dad’s Christmas spirit restored, it’s now up to the human occupants of the house to celebrate in style, which they do! It all goes to prove that, in order to make the perfect Christmas, all you need around you are the ones you love and maybe, just maybe, a teeny, weeny bit of magic! Song – ‘Christmas Magic Reprise’