Главная страница «Первого сентября»Главная страница журнала «Английский язык»Содержание №47/2002
SCHOOL THEATRE

The Shoemaker and the elves

Puppets: The Shoemaker, the Wife, the Rich Girl, the Rich Man, the Elves (as many as you wish)

Props: Basket with tops of boots and shoes showing.

Workbench with finished shoes attached.
Bed.
The scene is the workshop of the poor shoemaker. The basket of shoes is center and the bed on one side.

As the play opens we hear offstage voices singing: “God rest ye merry, gentlemen.” The voices fade as the narrator starts to speak.

Narrator: It was a snowy Christmas Eve in the little village, and everywhere people were making happy preparations for the next day...except at the home of the poor shoemaker and his wife.

Shoemaker enters dejectedly, followed by wife.

Shoemaker: I know you are tired, my dear, and I wish with all my heart that I could give you a hot supper and tell you to rest, but until we finish these shoes there will be no money for food and no time for rest.

Wife (wearily, turning towards basket): I know, dear husband, I know. I’ll try to work. I am no hungrier than you are.

Shoemaker: To be hungry is bad enough, but to be hungry on Christmas Eve...

Wife: And such a big basket of shoes to finish! It’s discouraging to just look at them all.

Shoemaker: We’d better start with the party shoes that young lady brought in. She wants them for tomorrow and she was very impatient.

Wife: There she is now – I know it! Oh, dear, and the shoes aren’t finished! Go and tell her we’ll have them as soon as –

Rich girl enters haughtily.

Girl: Since no one answered my knock I decided to see for myself what the lazy shoemaker was doing! Where are my shoes?

Wife: They will be ready tomorrow, Miss.

Girl: Tomorrow! They should be ready now! You’ve had them long enough. What a bother! I’ll have to come back.

Shoemaker: I promise you they’ll be ready first thing in the morning.

Girl: They’d better be! Or you’ll get no more business from me.

She goes out as there is another knock offstage.

Shoemaker (wearily): Oh, now who? Come in!

Rich man enters.

Man: I want my boots and I want them now.

Wife: One boot is finished, sir, and if you’ll just –

Man: One! What good is one boot? I get them first thing in the morning or you don’t get paid!

He goes out. The wife sinks down weeping. The Shoemaker hurries to her.

Shoemaker: There, there, my love...you must rest...here – lie down (puts her on bed) and I’ll do the work.

Wife: (weakly) But I must help you...I must help...

Her voice trails off and she sleeps.

Shoemaker (looking down at her): At least while she sleeps she will not be hungry... (he turns back to the basket as there is another offstage knock) No! I’ll not answer it! I’ll not face any more angry customers! Go away! (knocking continues) Why don’t they leave us alone!

An elf enters.

Elf: May I come in? The door was open.

Shoemaker (staring at him): Who are you?...

Elf: A traveler. Could you spare something to eat?

Shoemaker: I’m sorry. We have nothing. Nothing at all. Look – there is my wife asleep from exhaustion and hunger. We have a well in the yard if you want a drink of water. If I had anything you could share it but we... (the elf is gazing at him steadily) Why do you look at me like that?... Why are you staring?... I feel strange... sleepy... but I can’t sleep... I must work... I must work... work... work...

He sinks down beside the basket, asleep. The elf turns with a chuckle.

Elf: Come in, men, and get to work!

The elves troop in chanting:

We’ll work, work, work, work, work all night,
We’ll work till dawn of early light,
We’ll work until it’s Christmas Day
And then we’ll steal away!

As they chant they are lifting the basket and taking it offstage.

We’ll tap, tap, tap, tap, tap all night,
We’ll tap, tap, tap, with all our might,
We’ll tap till every single shoe
Is just as good as new!

Elf: Half of you do the shoes – and the other half get breakfast; hurry – it’s almost Christmas morning!

The elves scatter and pop in and out as they chant:

The sun is up and the job is done,
The shoes are finished, every one!
And now we will be on our way
There’s lots to do this Christmas Day!

As they chant the last verse they have carried in the workbench with the finished shoes.

An Elf: Let’s wake them up!

Another Elf: No, – wait – let’s wake her up and she can have the fun of waking him.

First Elf: Good idea!

They gently shake the wife and say: “Wake up, wake up, Merry Christmas!” Then they all vanish. The wife stirs and sits up.

Wife (sleepily): Husband?...I’m sorry I fell asleep...I’ll help you now, why, it’s morning! (she looks around) It’s Christmas morning and the shoes aren’t finished. Husband – quickly– get up, we must work.

She sees the bench with the shoes and gasps, then runs to shake her husband.

Wife: How did you do it? How did you do it?

Shoemaker (stirring): Do...what?...

Wife: How did you ever finish the shoes all alone, and such beautiful work!

Shoemaker (staring at the bench): But…I didn’t. I fell asleep!

Wife: Then who – did anyone come in last night?

Shoemaker: Just a strange little man who asked for food. A strange little man! (she starts out) I must look in the kitchen!

Shoemaker: Why?

Wife (turning): To see if they have left food.

Shoemaker: Who?

Wife: The Christmas elves! If this is the work of the Christmas elves, they always leave food too!

She hurries out.

Shoemaker (looking at the bench): The Christmas elves!...The little people who help the poor on Christmas Eve! I’ve heard of them but I never thought.

Wife (returning): Husband! There is a beautiful breakfast on the table!

Shoemaker: And the work is done!...

They stand together and look up.

Wife: Thank you...whoever you are...

Shoemaker: And wherever you are...

(they embrace)

Merry Christmas, my love!

Wife: Merry Christmas, dear husband!

We hear voices singing the last lines of “God rest you.”

THE END