Santa’s On Strike

Overview

Plot Summary

It’s Christmas Eve at the North Pole, and frantic preparations are under way to get Santa ready for his annual ‘evening out’ (song – ‘Ready For Christmas Day’). However, all is not as it should be. We hear from the elves, Eric, Elsie, Edgar, Edna, Esmée and Elmer, that Santa has gone on strike! Mrs Santa thinks this may be a passing problem due to his age, but Santa claims he has good reason for refusing to deliver presents to the children of the world. He has been watching repeats of ‘Supernanny’ on TV and can’t believe the behaviour he has witnessed (song – ‘Santa’s On Strike’). He thinks children no longer deserve a visit from him on Christmas Eve, and he won’t be convinced otherwise.
Desperate to save Christmas, the Elves, Mrs Santa and Rudolf plead with him to change his mind, but Santa digs his heels in! Then the elves hit on a plan which might convince him that children are not like those he’s seen on TV, but that they can be really kind and giving, caring and sharing. Using the World-Wide-View-Satellite-Plasma-Screen-and-handset they tune in to the Wiseman family who are preparing for Christmas. They, and the audience, witness the comically frantic time families can have leading up to the big day, and see the children more than doing their bit to ease the pressure. (song – ‘Pitching In, Helping Out’)
Next we tune into the Shepherd family. Despite being settled into a Christmas Eve game of cards (which Dad is a little too eager to win!) the children are keen to make sure all the animals – pets, birds and even Santa’s reindeer – are comfortable, catered-for and well looked-after. (song – ‘Puppies Are Not Just For Christmas’)
The Elves then show Santa the King family. We see how the children are happy to sacrifice a cosy Christmas Eve watching DVDs in order to join others, outside in the cold, carol singing to raise money for the old folks’ home. They also enjoy dragging their protesting parents outside for a sing-along too! (song – ‘Lots of Fa-la-la’)
In a short optional scene Santa is shown that children haven’t forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. We tune in to a nativity tableau, where, dressed as the traditional characters, a group of children perform a traditional Christmas song (‘Silent Night’)
If all this hasn’t yet softened Santa’s heart, then the final visit to the Starr family is bound to make him see that children can embrace the true spirit of Christmas. The Starr children feel sorry for their old neighbour, Mr Lewis, and take him round some Christmas cake (and a bottle of Dad’s wine!), with the intention of keeping him company for a short while. Moved by his loneliness they go the whole hog and invite him to their house for Christmas! (song – ‘Give A Little Time’)
Quite predictably this does the trick, and as Santa sobs into his beard he instructs the elves to load up the sleigh. In a rousing finale he admits that children are still worthy of a wonderful Christmas, and he will do his utmost to see they get it! (song – ‘Blast Off!)