LIVE: Christmas Eve Disaster Story
Occasionally it's really fun to do a bit of live storytelling in our shows. Those who have been to many live shows (and I know we have lots of you in this group!) may have seen a few of them, including "Finn McCoul" and "the Devil Went Down to Georgia."
But this is the one we wrote for the Christmas shows!
It's the unfortunate tale of Christmas Eve going wrong when Santa gets sick. The two elves, Zip and Zap, will just have to take over, but they think a little too much of their own ability.
This video was taken last year (2019) on the Christmas tour. We hope you enjoy this!
I've also included the written version so you can read along in case the audio is patchy:
The Christmas Eve Disaster Story (a.k.a. Elf Skit)
ALL SING:
SANTA CLAUSE IS COMING TO TOWN
Narrator: All the elves were in the workshop, Christmas Eve was almost here - when the news came ‘round that the boss was down with a nasty bout of flu. Santa Clause, that dear old man, he’d spread himself too thin. Sick in bed with a pillow on his head, he said: “boy, I just can’t win.” But someone was needed to do his job and so he called a meeting. He would choose one elf to fly his sleigh so he could sleep that evening.
Zap: Hey Santa Clause, you’re pretty good and I know this sounds cliche, but you’re lookin’ kinda old and grey and like someone should save the day. I’m a CEO and a Top Shelf Elf and listen what I’ve got to say - I’ll take a survey and cut the pay (this place could use that anyway) with efficiency and double-speed and the help of my sidekick Zip - I’ll triple the toys for all girls and boys by this Christmas Eve.
Narrator: Well Santa sat straight up in bed and turned to him to say… “Well that’s alright and fine and good, but can you fly a sleigh?”
Zap: I’m a CEO and a Top Shelf Elf… I can learn that any day.
Narrator: So Santa smiled and looked at him and said to him, “Well, okay….”
ALL SING:
Oh you better watch out, you better not cry you better not pout I’m telling you why - Santa, he’s NOT COMING to town.
He’s very, very sorry. He wishes that he could. But now it’s up to Zip and Zap to get this stuff to you.
So they better watch out, they better be sharp, they better be smart I’m telling you why - Santa, he’s NOT COMING to town.
Narrator: Flying fast, they came at last to a land of trees and sea. Zooming through a big snowcloud Zip turned to Zap to say:
Zip: We’re doing great, keep straight ahead, don’t worry ‘bout a thing. We’ll get there just in time I think, as those kids hop into bed.
Narrator: but Zap he had much bigger plans than just that simple scheme… “That’s not fast enough!” he screamed, and with haste he went extreme! Thinking he was oh-so-clever, down came his hand on a big red lever - a latch came loose beneath the sleigh, dropping the presents to their dismay. All the gifts fell down to the sea below, and were lost… forevermore.
Narrator: “What are we gonna do now?” Zip wailed, and put his head in his hand.
Zap: There’s only one thing we can do - we’ve gotta get this sleigh to land!
DRAMATIC MUSIC
Narrator: steering the sleigh through a blanket of cloud, they landed the sleigh with a noise very LOUD, and found themselves facing this very large crowd of some people who probably expect … presents.
Zip: Well gee, these poor people…we’ve gotta give ‘em something. If Santa finds out… we’re dust! We’re nothing!
Zap: Hmmm…. these people don’t know that their gifts are all gone, how could they know that something went wrong? Listen to me little Zip and you’ll see that I am much smarter than Santa would be. Instead of a boring box under the tree, what they will get… is a violin solo. From ME!
Zap plays a terrible solo. Zip is encouraging, the Narrator can’t listen.
Zip: The noise level shows that this crowd is not pleased. They still miss those presents they should have received! I hear people these days like music to dance to - not really music, but a beat they can hop to. Try it! 1, 2, 3….
Zip and Zap are not good at playing together and it’s a train wreck.
Narrator (shaking head): but though the crowd cheered for both of the elves….
AUDIENCE CHEERS
Narrator: … they knew they had failed, in spite of themselves. That perhaps deep inside, these people know better… that there’s much more to Christmasthan just being clever.
Zip and Zap: we’re sorry that all of your presents are gone, we’ll have Santa replace them all before long.
Zip: we used our talents and we were very smart, but maybe what’s missing is a little more… heart. Santa gives of himself every year - he makes children happy, he gives adults cheer… if we could all see his worth and help with his plan, then there might finally be peace on Earth, and good will towards man.
Zap: yeah…. why, there are much worse places we could all be. Why we’re here together - and not in the sea.
Zip and Zap: all we can say, and all we can do is be glad that we’re here and that we can all say….
ALL SING WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS
Zip and Zap fall asleep
Narrator: all the elves were in the workshop, Christmas Eve was really here. When Zip and Zap woke up and found they’d had a big old nightmare. Santa Clause, that dear old man, he was ready to begin. In the shed and sitting in his sled, he said “boy this makes me grin!”
Beaming around at his North Pole home he decided to call a meeting. He would choose one elf to fly his sleigh and help him out that evening.
Zap: Hey Santa Clause, you’re pretty good and I know this sounds cliche, but you’re looking kind of young and great and I’ll help you in any way!
Zip and Zap: We are just little elves, with nothing much to say…
Zap: … but I’ll gladly do what I can for you, and Zip will help you, too.
Narrator: well Santa sat straight up in the sled and turned to them to say, “well that’s alright and fine and good, but will you fly the sleigh?”
Zap: oh Santa Clause, we’re just little elves, and we try our very best. But we have just one request. YOU’D better fly the sleigh.
Narrator: so Santa smiled and looked at them and said to them “well…okay.”
ALL SING:
SANTA CLAUSE IS COMING TO TOWN