King's Own Christmas
Original Christmas musical written by D. Keith Carlson. The music is by Carl Vollrath and the lyrics by James Preston. The play has 5 speaking/singing parts. The music is for a piano with soloists and soprano, alto, tenor, bass chorus. The script is typed and the scores are written in pencil on musi...
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| Format: | Electronic |
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Troy University Library
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| Online Access: | http://cdm17217.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/troy2/id/19422 |
| format |
Electronic |
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Wade Hall Postcard Collection |
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Troy University Library |
| publisher |
Troy University Library |
| topic |
Alabama postcards |
| spellingShingle |
Alabama postcards King's Own Christmas Carl Vollrath |
| fulltopic |
Alabama postcards Musicals -- Vocal scores with piano; Christmas plays; Christmas music; Vocal music -- Scores; Music -- Manuscripts; Vollrath, Carl, 1931- -- Manuscripts Arts and Literature -- Music Music Music; Songs & music; Keyboard instruments |
| description |
Original Christmas musical written by D. Keith Carlson. The music is by Carl Vollrath and the lyrics by James Preston. The play has 5 speaking/singing parts. The music is for a piano with soloists and soprano, alto, tenor, bass chorus. The script is typed and the scores are written in pencil on music score paper.Vocal, Pianoscript 14 pages; 8 1/2 x 11, scores 33 pages; 9 x 12The King’s Own Christmas
the scene: THE THRONE ROOM of the royal palace. It is a typical story-book throne room, with a regal feeling over-apparent.
THE KING sits alone at the throne, mulling over the items of THE GREAT LIST.
the people: the KING
his ADVISOR
his JESTER
his SERVANT
the KING’S PEOPLE (chorus) from which the FATHER, the LITTLE GIRL, and HER MOTHER are drawn.
the music: The Overture
The King speaking to himself.
KING: Christmas tree, decorations, wreaths, I’m sure there hasn’t been a thing omitted from The Great List. Menu for the Christmas dinner. Everything that will be needed to make this Christmas the happiest day of my life. It most certainly should be a happy Christmas, if for no other reason than to just please me!
At the opposite end of the Throne Room, the Jester and the Servant are whispering to each other.
SERVANT: You say the King is going to celebrate Christmas this year? My own eyes will have to bear witness to this.
JESTER: Odd, it’s true, that His Majesty should celebrate anything except His Majesty.
SERVANT: Perhaps it’s some royal holiday he has proclaimed – just to make us work on Christmas Eve.
JESTER: To be sure we are not here to receive gifts.
KING: Servant, come here! You are supposed to be attending me.
The Servant responds quickly; the Jester pays little attention to the King’s demands. The Servant hurries
to the throne.
KING: You will be happy to know that your wise King has completed The Great List.
SERVANT: (Half-whispering to himself) Great List?
KING: At last it is finished. All the things that make Christmas what it is are here.
JESTER: He need not bother to list icicles, his cold hands could freeze water.
KING: (Just hearing the first part of the Jester’s statement) Icicles! Thank you for suggesting them Jester. I don’t think they are very important, but we must not overlook anything.
SERVANT: What is your wish, Your Majesty?
KING: My wish is for my Christmas. When all of these things are assembled, I will have it. Go now, gather the ingredients.
The Servant takes the Great List and proceeds back to the Jester.
SERVANT: In any other Kingdom we would be home with our families on Christmas Eve, but here we spend the night running about gathering things for “the King’s scavenger hunt”.
JESTER: Sometimes it is fortunate to be but a Jester, I’m not considered competent enough to be trusted with the King’s Great List.
SERVANT: Bearing the King’s Great List offers little consolation to being absent from my warm home on Christmas Eve.
JESTER: Think of yourself as “a bringer of glad tidings”. (pauses) Good Luck.
Servant exits. The Jester imposes himself upon the King.
JESTER: Would it please your Majesty if I were to prepare some amusing pageant for your Christmas guests?
KING: You are MY Jester, and you shall entertain only me. Beside that, there are not going to be any Christmas guests. I am King. I don’t need any foolish people babbling about the Christmas Spirit. When my Servant returns, I will have everything necessary to have my own Christmas.
JESTER: (Mockingly) Just trees, wreaths, and mistletoe, even by the ton; will only make your Christmas a very empty one.
KING: This may be your last Christmas in this Kingdom, Jester!
JESTER: And where would Your Majesty find another Jester? Joking is a difficult task in a Kingdom as dreary as this one.
KING: Do not be too sure of yourself, fool.
The Servant returns, and relieves the tension a bit.
KING: Ah! At last you are back. What detained you? Did you get everything on the List?
SERVANT: I’m sorry Your Majesty, but since it is Christmas Eve, most of the shopkeepers have gone home to their families.
KING: Bah! Running home to their families. Why does everyone think that Christmas is not Christmas unless you have crowds of relatives around. I suppose you would like to go home too, would you not?
SERVANT: Well, now that you . . .
KING: NO!
During the conversation the Jester has been admiring the Christmas tree.
JESTER: Unfortunate for you, tree, that you have been cut for such a Christmas as the King’s.
SERVANT: I will bring the remainder of the preparations immediately, Your Majesty.
The Servant exits. The Jester is still admiring the tree. The King can’t stand to see the Jester idle for a moment.
KING: Jester, put the tree in the middle of the room.
JESTER: Hi diddle-diddle, a tree in the middle. (He doesn’t move the tree)
KING: Where is the food for the dinner?
The servants enter with trays of food and proceed to prepare the King’s table.
SERVANT: I’m bring it now, Sir.
KING: Call the other servants, have them decorate my Throne Room.
SERVANT: Yes, Your Majesty.
The Servant exits and returns with other servants, they start decorating. The Servant begins to hang some mistletoe near the king’s table.
KING: What are you doing with that weed?
SERVANT: It is not a weed, Your Majesty, it is called mistletoe.
KING: Mistletoe? What kind of sorcery did it grow from?
SERVANT: Not sorcery Your Majesty, mistletoe is part of the Christmas Spirit.
KING: Enough of these foolish explanations! Finish hanging that weed and leave me to enjoy my Christmas dinner.
The King turns away for a moment; and the Servant seizes the opportunity to hang the mistletoe over the pretty young head of a girl-servant; also seizes the next opportunity.
KING: (shooing them away) Go, go.
All exit. The King strides around the Throne Room admiring the decorations. As he approaches the Christmas tree. .
KING: Now, in the solitude of MY Throne Room, I shall enjoy MY Christmas. Strange, I do not feel happy yet; the decorations are completed. (To the tree) Well, tree, delay no longer, make me feel Christmasie. (Frowns disgustedly) Stupid tree.
King starts away from tree, then stops and looks over his shoulder to see if the tree may have started something to make him feel “Christmasie”. Continues toward table.
KING: perhaps the Christmas dinner will unlock the secret.
He sits at table surveying the food.
KING: Ah, plum pudding; that certainly is a food representative of Christmas. (Tastes it) I most certainly do not want to miss a morsel of food. (Eats More) This is a meal fit for a king! (Doubletakes)
A time lapse with musical bridge: “Deck the Halls”
The King has finished all the food, and is lying back in his chair.
KING: Oh me. The only thing that has been fulfilled is my stomach. (Finds it hard to rise, and sits back again) Something is missing.
The Jester has been hiding behind the King’s chair. He pops up:
JESTER: Your Majesty does not seem to be enjoying Christmas. What is the matter?
KING: (Angrily) What is the matter, you ask? Something has been overlooked on the Great List, that is what the matter!
Jester Surveys the very empty dishes on the table.
JESTER: me thinks from the state of the Christmas dinner, it is not the lack of food that causes you this woe.
KING: Fortunate for you, fool, that you are but a jester; or you would be in the same form as the turkey! Call my Advisor, and bring the Great List.
Jester bounces out; the King’s Advisor enters.
JESTER: Check the list, check the list, discover what the King has missed!
KING: now why do King’s have to have Jesters?
ADVISOR: Your Majesty desires my counsel?
KING: (Mockingly) Yes, I desire your counsel. Find what has been missed on the Great List.
Advisor also notices the barren table.
ADVISOR: Well, I think we can discount the lack of food.
KING: (Sheepishly out of character in the confidence of his Advisor) Well, I was hungry; and I thought thought the plum pudding would give me visions of sugar plums dancing in my head.
ADVISOR: No visions, eh?
KING: (Sadly) No, not even a peek.
ADVISOR: I fear what has been missed is not even on this list.
KING: What? What? Just tell me what it is and I’ll have it brought to me.
ADVISOR: You have overlooked love.
KING: Love?
ADVISOR: Yes, Your Majesty, love. You see, all of these things that have been assembled here are but tokens of Christmas. I fear Your Majesty has mistaked the shadow for the substance.
KING: (Confused by this explanation) Token, shadow, substance, this is nonsense! Tell me simply what this thing love is.
ADVISOR and CHORUS sing “LOVE IS PEOPLE”
LOVE IS PEOPLE:
Advisor: (solo)
As the washer woman hums each morning
Hanging out her clothes
Though her hands are freezing,
Still she’s happy because she knows:
Love is people . . . love is people.
When the farmer and his family
Are eating evening meal
Each is happy though his food is poor
That is just because he feels:
Love is people . . . love is people,
That is love.
Having people near can calm each fear
Can help each trouble go.
Having people love you sets about you halo lights aglow.
Only people only giving love
Makes living worth it’s while,
Loving people nerves your spirit,
Curves your mouth into a smile.
Chorus:
When the season comes around,
And pine trees hang with snow,
When Christmas comes around again
And pine trees hang with snow
And people laugh and sing with one another
All this goes to show:
Love is people . . . love is people
Love is people . . . love is people,
Yes, love is people.
KING: (Thoughtfully) Love is people, eh? (reasons to himself) Then the solution to the problem is at last uncovered. People are all I need now. Well then, order the servants to remain in the Throne Room; they most certainly are people.
ADVISOR: Oh, Your Majesty, I don’t think you understand.
KING: I understand perfectly. Go, do as I have ordered.
ADVISOR: Yes, Your Majesty.
The Advisor goes to the Servants.
KING: Love. How could I have forgotten that. I Suppose even I am entitled to one shortcoming. People are all I need; my Christmas will be perfect at last.
The Jester pops up from behind the Throne.
JESTER: Begging your pardon, Sire; are you quite sure Your Majesty will not be bored by these people babbling about the Christmas Spirit? (Reminding the King of an earlier statement.)
KING: (Recalling) You cannot be expected to understand, fool. The item that is lacking in my Christmas is love; and love is people, that is why the people are staying.
The Servant is discovered talking with the King’s Advisor in the far end of the Throne Room.
ADVISOR: . . . and when I stated that love is people, the King ordered us all to remain here with him.
SERVANT: He expects us to love him?
ADVISOR: I’m afraid that is exactly what he expects. I suppose we really should. We might even give him some gifts.
SERVANT: He taxes us so heavily we have not much but love to give.
The Advisor and the Servant walk toward the King. They hurry as he speaks:
KING: Where have you been? Has my order been carried out?
ADVISOR: Yes, Your Majesty, all your people are here.
The King surveys the group carefully. In doing so, he sees a little girl standing with her parents.
KING: Why is this child here in a time of such great importance? Who brought her into my Throne Room?
FATHER: She is our child, Your Majesty. (Trying to find words to calm the King’s wrath) My family and I have always been together on Christmas Eve.
The Advisor intervenes.
ADVISOR: Your Majesty would not want to make anyone unhappy on Christmas Eve, would he?
JESTER: HA!
The King now turns his anger toward the Jester.
KING: No, I suppose not; but it would not bother my mind to have a Jester be-headed. (Pauses) The child may stay, but she must not disturb me. Tell her to go play in the corner . . or whatever children do.
The Advisor tries to comfort the worried parents.
FATHER: (Whispering) I thought for sure he would make the child leave.
ADVISOR: Perhaps he’s not such a bad King as we think. True, he does ask a lot from his people. Christmas has a warming effect on almost all beings; maybe the King is beginning to feel it too.
Title Advisor and the Chorus Sing “FOR IT’S CHRISTMAS”
FOR IT’S CHRISTMAS:
Chorus:
Our king is not the brightest man,
Jester:
No one would say that!
Chorus:
Our king has still been good to us,
Jester:
There’s no denying that!
Chorus:
We’d like to stay
And help him get
The spirit he desires.
But all that we can think of
Are our pleasant homes and fires.
Jester:
It’s quite a strange dilemma,
Chorus:
And what are we to say. . .
Your majesty, we’d like to help,
But must we really stay?
For it’s Christmas,
And outside the stars crisply twinkle
And wink at the snow.
For it’s Christmas,
And the stars crisply twinkle
And wink at the snow.
For it’s Christmas. . .
Jester:
And here we are moping and hoping
He’ll soon let us go.
Chorus:
It’s Christmas. . .
And outside the stars
Crisply twinkle and wink at the snow.
It’s Christmas!
Oh, please get the spirit you wish
And then let us depart.
It’s Christmas!
I hope there is something to do
Which will melt his cold heart.
Our king may think a bit too much
About the things he wants,
But still he treats us kindly
And abides the Jester’s taunts.
Jester:
And how we’d like to help him
Get the spirit that he wants!
Chorus:
For it’s Christmas,
And outside the stars crisply twinkle
And wink at the snow.
For it’s Christmas,
And the stars crisply twinkle
And wink at the snow.
For it’s Christmas. . .
Jester:
And here we are moping and hoping
He’ll soon let us go,
Chorus:
It’s Christmas. . .
And outside the stars
Crisply twinkle and wink at the snow.
It’s Christmas!
Oh, please get the spirit you wish
And then let us depart.
It’s Christmas!
I hope there is something to do
Which will melt his cold heart.
ADVISOR: Do you feel the Spirit of Christmas yet, Your Majesty? We are sincere in our efforts to help you have a happy Christmas. Are you quite sure you do not feel anything of this sort?
Suddenly a surprised look comes over the King’s face.
KING: I think I do feel something . . yes, yes . . I think I . . . OCH!
The King leaps up from the Throne. The Jester, who has been standing behind the Throne, pulls a broken spring from the seat on the Throne. He dangles it for all to see.
JESTER: This is what you felt your Majesty . . and I’m afraid it is not the Christmas feeling.
The King is disheartened. He sits down, very carefully.
KING: Even my Throne is working against me.
SERVANT: We are not against you, Your Majesty, we are truly trying to help you become happy.
The Servant exits as if he can do no more. The Jester follows. The King turns toward his Advisor.
KING: You are my wisest Advisor. Tell me how I will be able to tell when love is present. How can I recognize it. Will I be able to see it? . . or smell it.
ADVISOR: You won’t be able to smell it, or even see it for that matter, Your Majesty. You will be able to feel it tho.
The King extends his hands, as if to see if it were raining.
KING: I do not feel a thing yet.
ADVISOR: No, Your Majesty, you cannot actually feel it; I mean . . at least not with your hands.
KING: Your explanation is a very poor one.
ADVISOR: I am sorry, Sir; it is very hard to explain. I mean to say you will feel it in your heart.
The King squirms uncomfortably in his seat.
KING: Well, at least it will not be felt in the seat of my royal pants again.
The Advisor is at a loss in his attempt to explain.
One of the servants enters with a cushion for the King to sit upon. The King is surprised by an un-ordered service. The Advisor seizes the illustration.
ADVISOR: There, Your Majesty! The service that was just rendered to you without request, is an example of a kind of love.
KING: It was? Well, it did ease the situation a bit; and I do have a better feeling . . . but alas, it is still in the seat of my pants, and not in my heart.
A pie is brought to the Throne by another servant.
SERVANT: Your Majesty, I would like you to have this pie my wife has baked. We hope you have a very merry Christmas.
KING: Oh no. Not anymore food. I’ve already eaten my Christmas dinner and I’m so stuffed that I fear this pie would only cause a more uncomfortable feeling in my stomach.
The Jester remarks as he passes by the Throne.
Well, at least the feelings are getting higher. A few more gifts and the feeling could reach His Majesty’s heart.
ADVISOR: Love has many forms, Your Majesty. I hope you can learn how to recognize it . . . and more important, how to accept it.
KING: I’ll accept it, have no fear. Just show me where it is.
The Jester has been crawling around on the floor, near the front of the Throne looking for something too. He jumps up excitedly.
JESTER: Here it is!
KING: Where? Where?
JESTER: Right here. The bell from the toe of my shoe, I thought it was lost forever.
Jester dances and shakes his toes in rhythm to a musical bridge: “Jingle Bells”. After this short dance, he skips off.
The Advisor and the Servant again try to soothe the King’s Disappointment.
ADVISOR: We do want to make your Christmas a happy one, Sir.
SERVANT: Making you happy will make us feel good too.
MUSIC FOR TRIMMING THE KING’S TREE BEGINS
ADVISOR: Perhaps the decorations need some brightening, to make the room look happier.
SERVANT: I’ll add some finishing touches to the tree.
DANCE BEGINS. The Servant, chorus (The King’s People), and the Jester decorate the Christmas tree and the Throne Room with choreographic movements.
Although the Advisor tries to prevent it, the Jester continues to taunt the King as he dances about with the trimmings. The Advisor speaks as the music ends.
ADVISOR: (Looking about the room) Ah, there, that is much better.
KING: If I only knew how to make people happy.
ADVISOR: You must take care not to cheat love, Sir.
KING: What do you mean, cheat love?
ADVISOR: By doing things for others just so they will love you for it. To use love only for your own satisfaction.
KING: This is all very confusing. Even my wisest Advisor speaks in riddles.
They are walking toward the balcony as they speak. The King continues toward the balcony; the Advisor has just about given up this approach to the King’s understanding, and he goes to gather the other servants after speaking:
ADVISOR: I wish it were possible for me to teach you what love is, for I believe you truly want to know.
The King stands alone on the balcony, looking to the sky for the answer.
KING: I am not even sure what I am looking for.
The light from the Christmas Star falls upon the King.
KING: The sky is bright tonight. The stars must know the secret of love. Especially that one bright one. I’ve never noticed a star so bright before. It is so beautiful . . I can’t help staring at it. I think if it were to move, I would follow it. (Pause) I feel strange. Perhaps it is the cold night air. (trying to control his senses)
RECIPE FOR CHRISTMAS:
Chorus:
Icicles dripping outside on the eaves
Holly beads red and green holly leaves,
Fruit cake and eggnog
Hot turkey and dressing,
Kids at the table,
Reciting the blessing.
Christmas trees decked out in splendid array
And outside the snow on a fine Christmas day.
All these are Christmas,
But these are just parts,
The Spirit of Christmas
Is found in your heart.
In your heart. . .
In your heart. . .
In your heart!
KING: Yet I’m not cold; in fact I feel warm inside. (Back to reality) Well, I must go back and dismiss the servants, they will be anxious to get home to their families. (Realizing what he has just said) And why shouldn’t they? It is Christmas Eve.
The King turns from the balcony and proceeds back into the Throne Room. As he does so, he notices the little girl sitting near the Christmas tree. She is crying softly over a broken doll.
KING: You may all . . . You should not be crying on Christmas Eve. What’s troubling you? Have you lost your parents. Oh, I see. (He repairs the child’s doll) Well, that’s no reason to weep. You see she’s well as ever again. I think she is ready for a very happy Christmas Day.
The Little Girl kisses the King on the cheek to the King’s surprise. He isn’t quite sure how to react to this. He silently touches his cheek cherishing the child’s kiss. The child exits entranced once more with her doll. The King rushes to the Advisor who has witnessed what happened.
KING: Did you see her face when I fixed her doll? It was just a broken toy . . but it meant so much to her. The way she looked at me . . . it was the most wonderful expression. And then . . then, she kissed me. Did you see?
ADVISOR: Yes, Your Majesty, I saw; and what is more important, think you felt it did you not?
KING: That I did. Why I felt a feeling in my heart that had never been there before. It happened so suddenly. I do not know why, or . . . .
ADVISOR: The star, Your Majesty. The light form the Christmas star fell upon you. And that light brings the glow of love.
KING: Yes, yes of course. I will never forget how I felt when I first saw that star. It made me feel warm inside.
ADVISOR: Now I am sure you will have a happy Christmas. I tell the servants to prepare a pageant in celebration.
KING: No, no. You must not waste any more time here. Go home to your families; and have a very Merry Christmas.
SERVANT: But, Your Majesty, is there not something we can do for you?
KING: All has been done. If I had not been so selfish, I would have realized that even a King is not powerful enough to have his own Christmas. Christmas is for everyone, something for people all over the world to share . . and all the things it takes to make Christmas.
The Chorus sings “Recipe for Christmas”, at the conclusion of which they all leave, waving goodbye to the King. The Overture begins as the King starts back toward his Throne alone. Then, the Little Girl enters, takes the King by the hand to spend Christmas with her family. They exit together.
the end of the king’s own christmas |
| title |
King's Own Christmas |
| titleStr |
King's Own Christmas |
| author |
Carl Vollrath |
| author_facet |
Carl Vollrath |
| url |
http://cdm17217.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/troy2/id/19422 |
| id |
SStroy219422 |
| thumbnail |
http://cdm17217.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getthumbnail/collection/troy2/id/19422 |
| _version_ |
1790078823443726336 |
| spelling |
King's Own ChristmasThe King's Own Christmas: Overture; moderate ♩=104, ♩=96, ♩=120 – Deck the Halls – Dinner Music; no tempo markings – Love is People; moderate ♩=104, meno mosso – For it’s Christmas; lively ♩=120, slow, ♩=96 – Jingle Bells; fast – Music for Trimming the King’s Christmas Tree; ♩=125 – Recipe for Christmas; with spirit ♩=120Original Christmas musical written by D. Keith Carlson. The music is by Carl Vollrath and the lyrics by James Preston. The play has 5 speaking/singing parts. The music is for a piano with soloists and soprano, alto, tenor, bass chorus. The script is typed and the scores are written in pencil on music score paper.Carl VollrathD. Keith Carlson; lyrics by James Preston2023Musicals -- Vocal scores with piano; Christmas plays; Christmas music; Vocal music -- Scores; Music -- Manuscripts; Vollrath, Carl, 1931- -- ManuscriptsArts and Literature -- MusicMusicMusic; Songs & music; Keyboard instrumentsVocal, Pianoscript 14 pages; 8 1/2 x 11, scores 33 pages; 9 x 12This collection may be protected under Title 17 of the U.S. copyright law.Carl Vollrath Music Collection, Troy University Library, Special Collections.The King’s Own Christmas
the scene: THE THRONE ROOM of the royal palace. It is a typical story-book throne room, with a regal feeling over-apparent.
THE KING sits alone at the throne, mulling over the items of THE GREAT LIST.
the people: the KING
his ADVISOR
his JESTER
his SERVANT
the KING’S PEOPLE (chorus) from which the FATHER, the LITTLE GIRL, and HER MOTHER are drawn.
the music: The Overture
The King speaking to himself.
KING: Christmas tree, decorations, wreaths, I’m sure there hasn’t been a thing omitted from The Great List. Menu for the Christmas dinner. Everything that will be needed to make this Christmas the happiest day of my life. It most certainly should be a happy Christmas, if for no other reason than to just please me!
At the opposite end of the Throne Room, the Jester and the Servant are whispering to each other.
SERVANT: You say the King is going to celebrate Christmas this year? My own eyes will have to bear witness to this.
JESTER: Odd, it’s true, that His Majesty should celebrate anything except His Majesty.
SERVANT: Perhaps it’s some royal holiday he has proclaimed – just to make us work on Christmas Eve.
JESTER: To be sure we are not here to receive gifts.
KING: Servant, come here! You are supposed to be attending me.
The Servant responds quickly; the Jester pays little attention to the King’s demands. The Servant hurries
to the throne.
KING: You will be happy to know that your wise King has completed The Great List.
SERVANT: (Half-whispering to himself) Great List?
KING: At last it is finished. All the things that make Christmas what it is are here.
JESTER: He need not bother to list icicles, his cold hands could freeze water.
KING: (Just hearing the first part of the Jester’s statement) Icicles! Thank you for suggesting them Jester. I don’t think they are very important, but we must not overlook anything.
SERVANT: What is your wish, Your Majesty?
KING: My wish is for my Christmas. When all of these things are assembled, I will have it. Go now, gather the ingredients.
The Servant takes the Great List and proceeds back to the Jester.
SERVANT: In any other Kingdom we would be home with our families on Christmas Eve, but here we spend the night running about gathering things for “the King’s scavenger hunt”.
JESTER: Sometimes it is fortunate to be but a Jester, I’m not considered competent enough to be trusted with the King’s Great List.
SERVANT: Bearing the King’s Great List offers little consolation to being absent from my warm home on Christmas Eve.
JESTER: Think of yourself as “a bringer of glad tidings”. (pauses) Good Luck.
Servant exits. The Jester imposes himself upon the King.
JESTER: Would it please your Majesty if I were to prepare some amusing pageant for your Christmas guests?
KING: You are MY Jester, and you shall entertain only me. Beside that, there are not going to be any Christmas guests. I am King. I don’t need any foolish people babbling about the Christmas Spirit. When my Servant returns, I will have everything necessary to have my own Christmas.
JESTER: (Mockingly) Just trees, wreaths, and mistletoe, even by the ton; will only make your Christmas a very empty one.
KING: This may be your last Christmas in this Kingdom, Jester!
JESTER: And where would Your Majesty find another Jester? Joking is a difficult task in a Kingdom as dreary as this one.
KING: Do not be too sure of yourself, fool.
The Servant returns, and relieves the tension a bit.
KING: Ah! At last you are back. What detained you? Did you get everything on the List?
SERVANT: I’m sorry Your Majesty, but since it is Christmas Eve, most of the shopkeepers have gone home to their families.
KING: Bah! Running home to their families. Why does everyone think that Christmas is not Christmas unless you have crowds of relatives around. I suppose you would like to go home too, would you not?
SERVANT: Well, now that you . . .
KING: NO!
During the conversation the Jester has been admiring the Christmas tree.
JESTER: Unfortunate for you, tree, that you have been cut for such a Christmas as the King’s.
SERVANT: I will bring the remainder of the preparations immediately, Your Majesty.
The Servant exits. The Jester is still admiring the tree. The King can’t stand to see the Jester idle for a moment.
KING: Jester, put the tree in the middle of the room.
JESTER: Hi diddle-diddle, a tree in the middle. (He doesn’t move the tree)
KING: Where is the food for the dinner?
The servants enter with trays of food and proceed to prepare the King’s table.
SERVANT: I’m bring it now, Sir.
KING: Call the other servants, have them decorate my Throne Room.
SERVANT: Yes, Your Majesty.
The Servant exits and returns with other servants, they start decorating. The Servant begins to hang some mistletoe near the king’s table.
KING: What are you doing with that weed?
SERVANT: It is not a weed, Your Majesty, it is called mistletoe.
KING: Mistletoe? What kind of sorcery did it grow from?
SERVANT: Not sorcery Your Majesty, mistletoe is part of the Christmas Spirit.
KING: Enough of these foolish explanations! Finish hanging that weed and leave me to enjoy my Christmas dinner.
The King turns away for a moment; and the Servant seizes the opportunity to hang the mistletoe over the pretty young head of a girl-servant; also seizes the next opportunity.
KING: (shooing them away) Go, go.
All exit. The King strides around the Throne Room admiring the decorations. As he approaches the Christmas tree. .
KING: Now, in the solitude of MY Throne Room, I shall enjoy MY Christmas. Strange, I do not feel happy yet; the decorations are completed. (To the tree) Well, tree, delay no longer, make me feel Christmasie. (Frowns disgustedly) Stupid tree.
King starts away from tree, then stops and looks over his shoulder to see if the tree may have started something to make him feel “Christmasie”. Continues toward table.
KING: perhaps the Christmas dinner will unlock the secret.
He sits at table surveying the food.
KING: Ah, plum pudding; that certainly is a food representative of Christmas. (Tastes it) I most certainly do not want to miss a morsel of food. (Eats More) This is a meal fit for a king! (Doubletakes)
A time lapse with musical bridge: “Deck the Halls”
The King has finished all the food, and is lying back in his chair.
KING: Oh me. The only thing that has been fulfilled is my stomach. (Finds it hard to rise, and sits back again) Something is missing.
The Jester has been hiding behind the King’s chair. He pops up:
JESTER: Your Majesty does not seem to be enjoying Christmas. What is the matter?
KING: (Angrily) What is the matter, you ask? Something has been overlooked on the Great List, that is what the matter!
Jester Surveys the very empty dishes on the table.
JESTER: me thinks from the state of the Christmas dinner, it is not the lack of food that causes you this woe.
KING: Fortunate for you, fool, that you are but a jester; or you would be in the same form as the turkey! Call my Advisor, and bring the Great List.
Jester bounces out; the King’s Advisor enters.
JESTER: Check the list, check the list, discover what the King has missed!
KING: now why do King’s have to have Jesters?
ADVISOR: Your Majesty desires my counsel?
KING: (Mockingly) Yes, I desire your counsel. Find what has been missed on the Great List.
Advisor also notices the barren table.
ADVISOR: Well, I think we can discount the lack of food.
KING: (Sheepishly out of character in the confidence of his Advisor) Well, I was hungry; and I thought thought the plum pudding would give me visions of sugar plums dancing in my head.
ADVISOR: No visions, eh?
KING: (Sadly) No, not even a peek.
ADVISOR: I fear what has been missed is not even on this list.
KING: What? What? Just tell me what it is and I’ll have it brought to me.
ADVISOR: You have overlooked love.
KING: Love?
ADVISOR: Yes, Your Majesty, love. You see, all of these things that have been assembled here are but tokens of Christmas. I fear Your Majesty has mistaked the shadow for the substance.
KING: (Confused by this explanation) Token, shadow, substance, this is nonsense! Tell me simply what this thing love is.
ADVISOR and CHORUS sing “LOVE IS PEOPLE”
LOVE IS PEOPLE:
Advisor: (solo)
As the washer woman hums each morning
Hanging out her clothes
Though her hands are freezing,
Still she’s happy because she knows:
Love is people . . . love is people.
When the farmer and his family
Are eating evening meal
Each is happy though his food is poor
That is just because he feels:
Love is people . . . love is people,
That is love.
Having people near can calm each fear
Can help each trouble go.
Having people love you sets about you halo lights aglow.
Only people only giving love
Makes living worth it’s while,
Loving people nerves your spirit,
Curves your mouth into a smile.
Chorus:
When the season comes around,
And pine trees hang with snow,
When Christmas comes around again
And pine trees hang with snow
And people laugh and sing with one another
All this goes to show:
Love is people . . . love is people
Love is people . . . love is people,
Yes, love is people.
KING: (Thoughtfully) Love is people, eh? (reasons to himself) Then the solution to the problem is at last uncovered. People are all I need now. Well then, order the servants to remain in the Throne Room; they most certainly are people.
ADVISOR: Oh, Your Majesty, I don’t think you understand.
KING: I understand perfectly. Go, do as I have ordered.
ADVISOR: Yes, Your Majesty.
The Advisor goes to the Servants.
KING: Love. How could I have forgotten that. I Suppose even I am entitled to one shortcoming. People are all I need; my Christmas will be perfect at last.
The Jester pops up from behind the Throne.
JESTER: Begging your pardon, Sire; are you quite sure Your Majesty will not be bored by these people babbling about the Christmas Spirit? (Reminding the King of an earlier statement.)
KING: (Recalling) You cannot be expected to understand, fool. The item that is lacking in my Christmas is love; and love is people, that is why the people are staying.
The Servant is discovered talking with the King’s Advisor in the far end of the Throne Room.
ADVISOR: . . . and when I stated that love is people, the King ordered us all to remain here with him.
SERVANT: He expects us to love him?
ADVISOR: I’m afraid that is exactly what he expects. I suppose we really should. We might even give him some gifts.
SERVANT: He taxes us so heavily we have not much but love to give.
The Advisor and the Servant walk toward the King. They hurry as he speaks:
KING: Where have you been? Has my order been carried out?
ADVISOR: Yes, Your Majesty, all your people are here.
The King surveys the group carefully. In doing so, he sees a little girl standing with her parents.
KING: Why is this child here in a time of such great importance? Who brought her into my Throne Room?
FATHER: She is our child, Your Majesty. (Trying to find words to calm the King’s wrath) My family and I have always been together on Christmas Eve.
The Advisor intervenes.
ADVISOR: Your Majesty would not want to make anyone unhappy on Christmas Eve, would he?
JESTER: HA!
The King now turns his anger toward the Jester.
KING: No, I suppose not; but it would not bother my mind to have a Jester be-headed. (Pauses) The child may stay, but she must not disturb me. Tell her to go play in the corner . . or whatever children do.
The Advisor tries to comfort the worried parents.
FATHER: (Whispering) I thought for sure he would make the child leave.
ADVISOR: Perhaps he’s not such a bad King as we think. True, he does ask a lot from his people. Christmas has a warming effect on almost all beings; maybe the King is beginning to feel it too.
Title Advisor and the Chorus Sing “FOR IT’S CHRISTMAS”
FOR IT’S CHRISTMAS:
Chorus:
Our king is not the brightest man,
Jester:
No one would say that!
Chorus:
Our king has still been good to us,
Jester:
There’s no denying that!
Chorus:
We’d like to stay
And help him get
The spirit he desires.
But all that we can think of
Are our pleasant homes and fires.
Jester:
It’s quite a strange dilemma,
Chorus:
And what are we to say. . .
Your majesty, we’d like to help,
But must we really stay?
For it’s Christmas,
And outside the stars crisply twinkle
And wink at the snow.
For it’s Christmas,
And the stars crisply twinkle
And wink at the snow.
For it’s Christmas. . .
Jester:
And here we are moping and hoping
He’ll soon let us go.
Chorus:
It’s Christmas. . .
And outside the stars
Crisply twinkle and wink at the snow.
It’s Christmas!
Oh, please get the spirit you wish
And then let us depart.
It’s Christmas!
I hope there is something to do
Which will melt his cold heart.
Our king may think a bit too much
About the things he wants,
But still he treats us kindly
And abides the Jester’s taunts.
Jester:
And how we’d like to help him
Get the spirit that he wants!
Chorus:
For it’s Christmas,
And outside the stars crisply twinkle
And wink at the snow.
For it’s Christmas,
And the stars crisply twinkle
And wink at the snow.
For it’s Christmas. . .
Jester:
And here we are moping and hoping
He’ll soon let us go,
Chorus:
It’s Christmas. . .
And outside the stars
Crisply twinkle and wink at the snow.
It’s Christmas!
Oh, please get the spirit you wish
And then let us depart.
It’s Christmas!
I hope there is something to do
Which will melt his cold heart.
ADVISOR: Do you feel the Spirit of Christmas yet, Your Majesty? We are sincere in our efforts to help you have a happy Christmas. Are you quite sure you do not feel anything of this sort?
Suddenly a surprised look comes over the King’s face.
KING: I think I do feel something . . yes, yes . . I think I . . . OCH!
The King leaps up from the Throne. The Jester, who has been standing behind the Throne, pulls a broken spring from the seat on the Throne. He dangles it for all to see.
JESTER: This is what you felt your Majesty . . and I’m afraid it is not the Christmas feeling.
The King is disheartened. He sits down, very carefully.
KING: Even my Throne is working against me.
SERVANT: We are not against you, Your Majesty, we are truly trying to help you become happy.
The Servant exits as if he can do no more. The Jester follows. The King turns toward his Advisor.
KING: You are my wisest Advisor. Tell me how I will be able to tell when love is present. How can I recognize it. Will I be able to see it? . . or smell it.
ADVISOR: You won’t be able to smell it, or even see it for that matter, Your Majesty. You will be able to feel it tho.
The King extends his hands, as if to see if it were raining.
KING: I do not feel a thing yet.
ADVISOR: No, Your Majesty, you cannot actually feel it; I mean . . at least not with your hands.
KING: Your explanation is a very poor one.
ADVISOR: I am sorry, Sir; it is very hard to explain. I mean to say you will feel it in your heart.
The King squirms uncomfortably in his seat.
KING: Well, at least it will not be felt in the seat of my royal pants again.
The Advisor is at a loss in his attempt to explain.
One of the servants enters with a cushion for the King to sit upon. The King is surprised by an un-ordered service. The Advisor seizes the illustration.
ADVISOR: There, Your Majesty! The service that was just rendered to you without request, is an example of a kind of love.
KING: It was? Well, it did ease the situation a bit; and I do have a better feeling . . . but alas, it is still in the seat of my pants, and not in my heart.
A pie is brought to the Throne by another servant.
SERVANT: Your Majesty, I would like you to have this pie my wife has baked. We hope you have a very merry Christmas.
KING: Oh no. Not anymore food. I’ve already eaten my Christmas dinner and I’m so stuffed that I fear this pie would only cause a more uncomfortable feeling in my stomach.
The Jester remarks as he passes by the Throne.
Well, at least the feelings are getting higher. A few more gifts and the feeling could reach His Majesty’s heart.
ADVISOR: Love has many forms, Your Majesty. I hope you can learn how to recognize it . . . and more important, how to accept it.
KING: I’ll accept it, have no fear. Just show me where it is.
The Jester has been crawling around on the floor, near the front of the Throne looking for something too. He jumps up excitedly.
JESTER: Here it is!
KING: Where? Where?
JESTER: Right here. The bell from the toe of my shoe, I thought it was lost forever.
Jester dances and shakes his toes in rhythm to a musical bridge: “Jingle Bells”. After this short dance, he skips off.
The Advisor and the Servant again try to soothe the King’s Disappointment.
ADVISOR: We do want to make your Christmas a happy one, Sir.
SERVANT: Making you happy will make us feel good too.
MUSIC FOR TRIMMING THE KING’S TREE BEGINS
ADVISOR: Perhaps the decorations need some brightening, to make the room look happier.
SERVANT: I’ll add some finishing touches to the tree.
DANCE BEGINS. The Servant, chorus (The King’s People), and the Jester decorate the Christmas tree and the Throne Room with choreographic movements.
Although the Advisor tries to prevent it, the Jester continues to taunt the King as he dances about with the trimmings. The Advisor speaks as the music ends.
ADVISOR: (Looking about the room) Ah, there, that is much better.
KING: If I only knew how to make people happy.
ADVISOR: You must take care not to cheat love, Sir.
KING: What do you mean, cheat love?
ADVISOR: By doing things for others just so they will love you for it. To use love only for your own satisfaction.
KING: This is all very confusing. Even my wisest Advisor speaks in riddles.
They are walking toward the balcony as they speak. The King continues toward the balcony; the Advisor has just about given up this approach to the King’s understanding, and he goes to gather the other servants after speaking:
ADVISOR: I wish it were possible for me to teach you what love is, for I believe you truly want to know.
The King stands alone on the balcony, looking to the sky for the answer.
KING: I am not even sure what I am looking for.
The light from the Christmas Star falls upon the King.
KING: The sky is bright tonight. The stars must know the secret of love. Especially that one bright one. I’ve never noticed a star so bright before. It is so beautiful . . I can’t help staring at it. I think if it were to move, I would follow it. (Pause) I feel strange. Perhaps it is the cold night air. (trying to control his senses)
RECIPE FOR CHRISTMAS:
Chorus:
Icicles dripping outside on the eaves
Holly beads red and green holly leaves,
Fruit cake and eggnog
Hot turkey and dressing,
Kids at the table,
Reciting the blessing.
Christmas trees decked out in splendid array
And outside the snow on a fine Christmas day.
All these are Christmas,
But these are just parts,
The Spirit of Christmas
Is found in your heart.
In your heart. . .
In your heart. . .
In your heart!
KING: Yet I’m not cold; in fact I feel warm inside. (Back to reality) Well, I must go back and dismiss the servants, they will be anxious to get home to their families. (Realizing what he has just said) And why shouldn’t they? It is Christmas Eve.
The King turns from the balcony and proceeds back into the Throne Room. As he does so, he notices the little girl sitting near the Christmas tree. She is crying softly over a broken doll.
KING: You may all . . . You should not be crying on Christmas Eve. What’s troubling you? Have you lost your parents. Oh, I see. (He repairs the child’s doll) Well, that’s no reason to weep. You see she’s well as ever again. I think she is ready for a very happy Christmas Day.
The Little Girl kisses the King on the cheek to the King’s surprise. He isn’t quite sure how to react to this. He silently touches his cheek cherishing the child’s kiss. The child exits entranced once more with her doll. The King rushes to the Advisor who has witnessed what happened.
KING: Did you see her face when I fixed her doll? It was just a broken toy . . but it meant so much to her. The way she looked at me . . . it was the most wonderful expression. And then . . then, she kissed me. Did you see?
ADVISOR: Yes, Your Majesty, I saw; and what is more important, think you felt it did you not?
KING: That I did. Why I felt a feeling in my heart that had never been there before. It happened so suddenly. I do not know why, or . . . .
ADVISOR: The star, Your Majesty. The light form the Christmas star fell upon you. And that light brings the glow of love.
KING: Yes, yes of course. I will never forget how I felt when I first saw that star. It made me feel warm inside.
ADVISOR: Now I am sure you will have a happy Christmas. I tell the servants to prepare a pageant in celebration.
KING: No, no. You must not waste any more time here. Go home to your families; and have a very Merry Christmas.
SERVANT: But, Your Majesty, is there not something we can do for you?
KING: All has been done. If I had not been so selfish, I would have realized that even a King is not powerful enough to have his own Christmas. Christmas is for everyone, something for people all over the world to share . . and all the things it takes to make Christmas.
The Chorus sings “Recipe for Christmas”, at the conclusion of which they all leave, waving goodbye to the King. The Overture begins as the King starts back toward his Throne alone. Then, the Little Girl enters, takes the King by the hand to spend Christmas with her family. They exit together.
the end of the king’s own christmasTroy University (Troy, Ala.) LibraryTUA_Vollrath_SCO_Kings_Own_Christmasimageengjpeghttp://cdm17217.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/troy2/id/19422 |