A Colonial Christmas
- 110 Minutes
- 9 Males, 4 Females, Max Cast 20+, Min Cast 16
$11.00 – $90.00
A full-length holiday comedy by Gillette Elvgren with a large cast and possible doubling.
In A Colonial Christmas, the Hartley family has decided to downsize the holidays which seem to have lost their significance. However. an old barrel organ is a portal to Christmas in Revolutionary days for a renewal of faith and the Christmas spirit. Great for community theaters and church audiences.
Enter Quantity Below
Performance Fee $70.00 A Production License Fee Per Performance (mandatory for all performances)
Apply for Performance RightsPlay Details
Overview
The Hartley’s have decided to minimize Christmas this year — too much trouble, and even though they just happen to live in Washington’s Crossing, Pennsylvania, they have seemingly lost their historical and faith roots. Grandma Goldie, however, is determined to bring them back.
Through the use of a magical old barrel organ this comically dysfunctional family is transported back to Christmas Eve, 1776, where they meet up with General George Washington as he is considering crossing the Delaware.
They ‘catch the spirit’ of Revolutionary times, and when they return to the present they decide to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas. Carolers, mummers, dancing and ensemble singing fill out this delightful tribute to the Christmas spirit by Gillette Elvgren.
From the Play
Script Extract:
Cast: Norman Hartley . . . . . . . . . . The father, late forties
Maureen Hartley. . . . .. . . . . . . . . The mother, late forties.
Tina Hartley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 year old daughter.
Jerry Hartley.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 year old teen son.
Goldie Hartley . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . Grandmother
Ted Parkinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adult Neighbor
Alice Parkinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adult Neighbor
Turk . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . mid twenties,
Tina’s boyfriend. Also plays a mummer.
James Gruber . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . eighteen, Salvation Army worker
George Washington . . . . . . . .. . . . . as stated.
James Monroe . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . played by actor playing Salvation
Army worker.
Jeremy Hartley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . drummer boy, fifteen
Ebenezer Mather. . . . . . . . . . . . . . played by actor playing Ted
Four Carolers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . also play Mummers.
The front door opens and the HARTLEY family mobs through the door, loaded with unwrapped presents. MAUREEN first, followed by her two teenage kids, TINA, in spiked hairdo and JERRY, with his jeans almost around his knees. Finally NORM. Bringing up the rear is Grandma GOLDIE, standing in the doorway, the snow still falling on her, watching the scene unfold. It’s Christmas Eve. Lights up. Everyone is talking.
TINA: (On cell phone.) I can’t hear. Would everyone please shut-up.
MAUREEN: I’ll settle for ‘please be quiet’ young lady.
TINA: (On phone.) You’re where. . .?
NORMAN: Who’s she talking to?
JERRY: The Turk. On his hog. Comin’ this-a-way.
MAUREEN: It’s Christmas Eve. Tell him to . . . to. . .
NORMAN: It’s no use.
TINA: He’ll be here in ten minutes.
JERRY: Yeah, I’ll bet he smelled the turkey.
MAUREEN: There is no turkey.
JERRY: And no mince pie, right? Causa we gotta ze pizza pie!
(He starts to open Pizza but MAUREEN takes it away from him.)
TINA: Shhh. He wants to know if we’re going to watch A CHRISTMAS CAROL.
NORMAN: On our T.V.?
TINA: He never misses it. And, he’s got presents for everyone.
MAUREEN: Oh great, what’ll we give him? This year we’re not. . .
JERRY: Give him a can of Pennzoil.
NORMAN: What’s he doing driving a motorcycle in the middle of winter? It’s snowing.
(He kicks the door shut. No one notices GOLDIE standing in the doorway. MAUREEN sticks a pre-fab bow on a shovel handle.)
MAUREEN: Which reminds me. Here, merry Christmas.
NORMAN: For me? (Somewhat sarcastic.) Surprise!
Related products
- $7.00 – $75.00
The Aviators
- 45 Minutes
- 4 Males
The Aviators, a one-act drama by John F. X. Delaney concerns a retired Marine Corps pilot, Rory “Roar” McMahon, and his longtime squadron buddy, Austin “Toad” Campion, recently admitted to the Navy Regional Medical Center in Portsmouth, VA with a life-threatening illness. The two characters are opposites in everything except their love of flying. With the help of two old combat buddies, they conspire to countermand the hospital staff in one, last. “impossible” escapade. Great for seniors and community theaters. Downloadable, printable PDF available.
Read More - $7.95 – $75.00
The Concise Christmas Carol
- 50 Minutes
- 1 Male (up to 4 possible)
A 50-minute condensed monologue adapted from Charles Dickens’ Scrooge. How the ghosts who haunt him, eventually transform a lonely, stingy, bitter old man into a generous, infectiously cheerful humanitarian. D.D. Delaney, a professional actor, playwright, journalist, and poet has adapted the familiar holiday classic for the stage. Written as a monologue, it can also be performed by 4 actors. Ideal for Christmas celebrations, house performances, and readers theater. Downloadable PDF available.
Read More - $7.79 – $60.00
Cinderella, Boots, Class & a Little Sass
- 30-45 minutes
- 1 Male, 4 Females, Max/Min Cast 5
A Musical country-western version of Cinderella. In this musical one-act for kids, the Prince is a Cowboy and Cinderella meets and lassos her handsome suitor. A modernised version of the classic kid’s tale by Lori M. Myers. To be performed by 5-7 adults or teens for children.
Read More - $7.00 – $60.00
A Cold Day in Hell
- 50 Minutes
- 1 Male 0 Female Max/Min 1
A Cold Day in Hell portrays one man’s effort at resolving his despair at his dilemma of having a hospitalized, comatose wife, apparently with no hope of recovery, and grown children who seem to him to be self-absorbed and detached from his plight.
Read More
A tour-de-force single-character play by author Jan Quackenbush, its actor, Michael Liscio was awarded a 1988 Los Angeles Dramalogue Award in a long-running production by the California Cottage Theatre, 1988-1991.
