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Click HERE to read the Script, look at the Score and listen to the Songs
Santa's Setbacks
by Dave Corbett
Pricing & Order Info.
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Why choose this Musical?
33 Speaking roles, plus several cameo parts
Easily expanded or reduced. See "Casting" tab below for details.
Unlimited chorus parts
Flexible to stage with simple, adaptable scenery and costume
Simple scenery - adaptable.
CDs of Backing Tracks and Vocal Tracks available
Easy Play Piano/Vocal Score (Grade 4 Standard) available
Easily constructed and manageable props
Age range - Key Stage 1 Production (4-7 years)
Everything seems to be going wrong for Santa. His sleigh is broken, Rudolph has a cold, a blizzard is blowing and then he spills tea all over himself. Will he get those presents delivered?
'We Love Christmas' opens the show but just as soon as this song lifts everyones spirits, the mood quickly darkens as Santa is informed that his sleigh is broken-possibly cracked by the extra weight of all the Christmas pudding he has been eating! 'Working' follows as the elves set to work on the sleigh, trying their hardest to fix it in time before Christmas Eve.
Unfortunately, this is not Santa's only setback as Rudolph is ill and only appears to be getting worse! As the nurse feeds the unhealthy reindeer some cough medicine, family and friends come to visit him and shower him with gifts to try and make him feel better; 'Poor Old Rudolph' is sung.
Just as things didn't look as though they could get any worse, during 'A Nice Cup of Tea' Rudolph sneezes so loudly that Santa spills his cuppa all over his suit. They are put straight into the washer-dryer, but before Mrs Claus can even shut the door, the next setback arises during 'Blow Blizzard Blow' as icy winds uncurl and thick snow starts to fall. All the creatures begin to complain as they stand shivering, but the only ones to embrace the chill are the snowmen as they jump around in glee singing 'Snowmen quite like it.'
However, as they say, when things are looking terrible they can only get better! Just as the storm begins to lift, the elves reappear announcing that the sleigh is mended, and Rudolph's nose is bright and glowing. Mrs Santa tops it off by announcing Santa's suit is clean and dry and everyone joins together in unison to celebrate the lucky turn of events during 'Sing Merrily.'
Suggested Cast List For 63 Actors
N.B. In the following list, the number shows how many spoken lines each role has.
| Character Name | Number of Lines |
|---|---|
| Santa | 18 |
| Mrs Santa | 9 |
| Narrator 1 | 9 |
| Foreman | 8 |
| Narrator 3 | 8 |
| Rudolph | 8 |
| Narrator 2 | 7 |
| Nurse | 7 |
| Doctor | 6 |
| Elf 1 | 6 |
| Elf 2 | 6 |
| Elf 3 | 6 |
| Announcer | 5 |
| Robin 1 | 3 |
| Robin 2 | 3 |
| Dad | 2 |
| Elf 4 | 2 |
| Elf 5 | 2 |
| Elf 6 | 2 |
| Elf 7 | 2 |
| Elf 8 | 2 |
| Hedgehog | 2 |
| Mouse | 2 |
| Mum | 2 |
| Reindeer 2 | 2 |
| Reindeer 3 | 2 |
| Robin 3 | 2 |
| Snowman 1 | 2 |
| Snowman 2 | 2 |
| Snowman 3 | 2 |
| Snowman 4 | 2 |
| Snowman 5 | 2 |
| Squirrel | 2 |
Non speaking roles: Two extra Reindeer, two extra Elves, two extra Snowmen, and four extra Animals, plus a chorus of twenty singers sitting offstage (who may be dressed as Elves or Woodland Creatures at Director's discretion).
Suggested Cast List For 22 Actors
N.B. In the following list, the number shows how many spoken lines each role has.
| Character Name | Number of Lines |
|---|---|
| Santa | 18 |
| Narrator 1 - also shares Narrator 3's lines with Narrator 2 at Director's discretion | 13 |
| Narrator 2 - also shares Narrator 3's lines with Narrator 1 at Director's discretion | 11 |
| Foreman - also plays Elf 7 | 10 |
| Mrs Santa | 9 |
| Nurse - also plays Mouse (or Robin 2 if preferred) | 9 |
| Doctor - also plays Robin 1 | 9 |
| Rudolph | 8 |
| Elf 3 - also covers Elf 6 and Elf 8's lines | 8 |
| Elf 1 - also covers Elf 4's lines | 7 |
| Elf 2 - also covers Elf 5's lines | 7 |
| Announcer | 5 |
| Mum - also plays Reindeer 2 | 4 |
| Dad - also plays Reindeer 3 | 4 |
| Robin 2 | 3 |
| Snowman 1 - also covers Snowman 5's line | 3 |
| Snowman 2 | 2 |
| Snowman 3 | 2 |
| Snowman 4 | 2 |
| Robin 3 | 2 |
| Hedgehog | 2 |
| Squirrel | 2 |
No additional chorus - cast sit near stage and sing chorus parts when not on stage.
Note: The Narrators' lines in Scene three will need to be reallocated/amended between the two remaining Narrators.
Santa's Setbacks
"We were very impressed with the suitability of the amount of memorising both in the script and the songs - just right for children of this age"Key Stage 1 Teacher, South Ferriby Primary
