Xmas Play

SHIRLEY'S XMAS PLAY

Committee Members line up, divided into Sheep (head-bands with sheeps' ears on them) Kings (crowns) and Shepherds (tea-towels) . Sheep are Left. Kings are Central. Shepherds are Right.

Shirley stands to one side, half-facing Committee. All parts are read from scripts.

Shirley

(cross) Come on Committee This wont do!

Our Xmas presentation's due!

Why are you all hanging back!

Any minute you'll get the sack!

Step forward and do what I say.

Let us get this under-way!

Sheep

(complaining) But we're sick of being sheep;

And we think you're just a creep,

Asking us to stand and 'Baaa!'

How very, very mean you are!

We want to act as other things!

Why oh why can't we be Kings?

Kings

( turning towards Sheep) Kings you say! Oh what a fuss

Wanting to look the same as us!

Our crowns are scratchy as can be;

Our velvet robes weigh heavily.

We are feeling very hot. (Pause)

(wheedling, to Shirley) But being shepherds would hit the spot.

Shepherds

(turning toward Kings) You must be mad! We shepherds lie

In damp old fields beneath the sky!

Our clothes are drab, our dinners meagre;

Any wonder we're not eager!

(threatening Shirley) I tell you, we'll fall in a heap

If you wont let us all be sheep!

Shirley

(increasingly irate) Come on! Come on! Who's running this show!

If I say Yes you can't say No!

(to the audience) Honestly, folk, I'm at a loss;

They simply wont admit I'm boss!

(to Committee) You are what you are and that's a fact.

All you have to do is act.

Sheep

(begging and whimpering) You just don't understand us fully;

We're tired of being fat and woolly.

We're tired of eating dry old grass

We want parts that have more class.

Please, Shirley, let us have our way!

Let us be Kings in the Xmas play.

Kings

(in a huff) They're welcome to our part as Kings;

The royals carry heavy things.

Myrrh and frankincense and gold.

These are pretty tough to hold!

Shirley! Really! We beg you yield

And let us be Shepherds in the field!

Shepherds

(placating) Come on, Shirley! Just give in!

It's certain that we're going to win.

Let us be Sheep and we'll toe the line.

Your Xmas play will be just fine!

We'll gladly follow the shining star

If we are just allowed a 'Baaa!'

Shirley

(angrily) Cut the cackle! And be festive!

(pointing to audience) Look! The audience is restive.

They're tired of your stupidity.

Everyone's obeying me!

I am Shirley! I'm the boss!

None of you seem to give a toss!

Sheep

(sulking) Being a King is what we like.

We warn you! We will go on strike!

Kings

(firmly) Let us be shepherds or we'll quit

And that will be the end of it!

Shepherds

(threatening) Let us be sheep or your play's a failure.

We'll spread the news all over Australia.

Shirley

(sighing defeated) Oh for goodness sake, the lot of you.

Everyone do what you want to do! (Pause)

Come on Sheep, what do you say

If you take part in this wretched play?

Sheep

(meekly) ' We Three Kings from Orient are

And we've been following a star'

Shirley

And now the Kings; your sheep are grazing;

Please say something quite amazing.

Kings

(in a singsong manner) 'The angels sing, the star is bright.

And we are watching our flocks by night.'

Shirley

And now the Shepherds. Do your best.

The audience must be impressed.

Shepherds

(smugly) 'Baa and baa and baa and baa'

Now you see how clever we are.

Shirley

Well, we got there in the end.

Committees drive me round the bend.

They squabble and they can't agree

And no-one ever listens to me!

And now before we all depart

We'll sing a song right from the heart.

Song. To the tune of 'Three Ships.' All sing. Not too fast, to allow breaths at the end of each line.)

Our Xmas play was rather tough

And Shirley got in quite a huff.

But most of us don't give a stuff.

For we're enjoying our Xmas.

Committees can be very strange,

They always like to chop and change.

But here is hoping you'll arrange

To have a wonderful Xmas.

(slower) Yes! Have a wonderful Xmas.

(all, waving) Happy Xmas Everyone!