Front matter
Reading edition
BY
FRANK ATKINSON
PRICE 50 CENTS
Copyright 1923
ARTHUR H. STROUSE PUBLISHING CO.
BERWYN, ILL.
The Quest for Santa Claus
A Christmas Play in Four Acts and a Prologue Depicting Familiar Scenes On Christmas Eve In Merry England
Prologue
Act I A Street in Sandbach
Act II Brereton Hall
Act III Room in Santa Claus House
Act IV Santa Claus Workshop
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Rosalind
, The Original 2 in 1
Captain of the Congo S. S.
First Mate of the Congo S. S.
Maggie Crispin } A brace of street urchins
Mr. S. Claus, Toymaker—by special appointment to Her Majesty, the Queen
Mrs. S. Claus
, Frugal housewife
J. D. Rocky Fellow
, Lamplighter
William Knight Hawk
, Watchman
Harold Ethel } Two souls with but a single thought
Matthew Ringling
, Town Crier
Mr. Allcock Mr. Clews } Lovers of darkness rather than light
M’lle
Beatysax Ophonia
M’lle
Viola Fiddel Strings
M’lle
Skylark Linnette Nightengale
Monsieur Wood Wynde
M’lle
Fluffy
M’lle
Tabitha
, Playful as a Kitten
Santa Claus
, Fountain of Eternal Youth
Lucifer Match
, King of Imps
Citizens, Waits, Retinue of Imps
Note: Before the curtain rises upon Act I, as soon as the company has assembled, the Superintendent ostensibly begins a short address of welcome. While thus engaged, “Beggar Maid” enters at the rear of the room and immediately starts in with her lines and by the time the First Mate, who up until that point has been serving as an Usher, has made reply the whole audience is conscious of the conversation taking place, and the dialogue goes on uninterrupted until the end.
The transformation accomplished by the erstwhile Beggar Maid, but now a Fairy Princess, is the sudden illumination of the evergreen trees flanking both sides of the stage by colored electric lights, and is very effective.