Friday, November 20, 2015

A Charlie Brown Christmas Tableau


On Sunday, February 13, 2000 the last PEANUTS cartoon drawn by Charles Schulz was published in the COMICS section of most major newspapers including the SUNDAY STAR NEWS in Wilmington. The final strip included a letter written by Charles Schulz about his 50 years of drawing Charlie Brown and his friends. Mr. Schulz explained that he needed to retire and that his family did not wish for PEANUTS to be continued by anyone else. But, here we are 15 years later with Charlie Brown and his friends being just as popular and just as sought after as they were in 2000! The PEANUTS Collector Club Facebook page just posted 22 pictures of PEANUTS collectibles available for Christmas at Kohl's. In November, 2015 a new PEANUTS movie was released---THE PEANUTS MOVIE by Schulz.

So as more generations become familiar with Charlie Brown and his gang, I thought that I would resurrect a Christmas tableau that we created at our school back in 1999 when we heard about the coming finale of PEANUTS. We scripted a holiday presentation based on the book, A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS, by Charles Schulz..The beauty of a tableau is its simplicity. It is easy to create, easy to organize, and easy on budget and time restraints. Basically you present the story using a narrator, simple, familiar holiday songs, cardboard props, and children posed as statues. The scenes are living pictures. Each depiction of a scene is represented on stage by silent, motionless, costumed participants. This entire scenario can be put together in the small time frame between Thanksgiving break and Christmas break. Music and circle times during this short time frame are spent in reading the story, learning the songs, and acting out the scenes of the tableau. Some props have to be created which the children can help paint and decorate during art center time.





A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS Tableau

Book written by Charles N. Schulz

Tableau created by Barbara Downing

Presented by Tot Spot LLC


Scene I

The curtain rises on a snow covered brick wall. Charlie Brown (leaning his chin on his hand and wearing a red hunting hat) and Linus (sucking his thumb and holding his blanket) stare off into space.

Narrator: I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I'm not happy. I don't feel the way I'm supposed to feel. I just don't understand Christmas.

Scene II

The curtain rises on Lucy sitting in her “psychiatric office.” Charlie Brown is sitting on a stool in front of the office wearing his hunting hat.

Narrator: Lucy, I'm in bad shape. Actually my problem is Christmas. I just don't understand it; instead of feeling happy, I feel sort of let down.

Scene III

The curtain rises on Charlie Brown holding his head in disbelief because Snoopy is busy with decorating ( Snoopy can be an actor or stuffed animal).

Narrator: Even my dog has gone commercial!

Scene IV

The curtain rises on Charlie Brown and Sally standing inside the house. Charlie Brown, holding a clipboard, writes down what Sally is dictating.

Narrator: Augh! Sally, Santa doesn't want to hear that all you want is your fair share!?

Scene V

The curtain rises on Charlie Brown standing next to a “director's chair” and holding a megaphone as he speaks to the cast.

Narrator: Well, it's real good seeing you all here. As, you know we're going to put on this Christmas play. And the actors must show spirit.

Scene VI

The curtain rises as the cast is acting very “spirited” with legs and arms raised. Charlie Brown is making a fist with one hand, raising his megaphone over his head, and starting to stomp his foot.

Narrator: Now look.... if we're ever to get this play off the ground, we've got to have some cooperation! We need a Christmas tree.

Scene VII

The curtain rises as Charlie Brown and Linus (sucking his thumb and carrying his blanket) stand in front of the trees. (1)

Narrator: Linus, this little green one here seems to need a home

Chorus: “O, CHRISTMAS TREE” (2)
Scene VIII

The curtain rises as Charlie Brown and Linus have placed the real tree on top of the piano. The cast (with arms folded in front of them) rejects the tree by having turned their backs to Charlie Brown and Linus.

Narrator: Isn't there anyone one who knows what Christmas is all about?

Scene IX

The curtain rises as Linus stands in front of the “angel band” (3) with his arms raised to the sky. The cast stares at Linus.

Chorus: “THE ANGEL BAND” (4)

Scene X

The curtain rises as Charlie Brown stands in front of the “stars” (5) holding his real tree.

Chorus: “TWINKLE, TWINKLE CHRISTMAS STAR” (6)

Scene XI

The curtain rises as Charlie Brown and Linus are fixing the real little tree. Linus has given the little tree his blanket.

Narrator: Linus is right! It needs love!

Scene XII

The curtain rises as the little tree becomes a beautiful, big tree. Charlie Brown stares at the beautiful, big tree as the chorus rejoices in song.

Chorus:(Finale) “WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS” (7)

THE END




CAST OF CHARACTERS

Narrator: Adult

Charlie Brown: Older boy

Linus: Older boy

Lucy: Older girl

Snoopy: Older boy in costume or large stuffed animal “Snoopy”

Sally: Younger girl

The Cast: Older classmates

Real Tree: Older student wearing “sandwich board trees” (one side fresh evergreen and
opposite side decorated evergreen)

Singing Trees: (Chorus) Younger students

Angel Band: (Chorus) Younger students

Stars: (Chorus) Youngest students

Finale: (Chorus) Characters, The Cast, and Chorus




PROPS

Scene I: Puppet stage with curtains
Snow-covered, cardboard brick wall

Scene II: Puppet stage with curtains
Cardboard “Psychiatric Office” sign
Small stool

Scene III: Cardboard doghouse cutout with a string of Christmas lights
Snoopy character in a costume or stuffed animal “Snoopy”

Scene IV: Clipboard and pencil

Scene V: Director's chair
Megaphone

Scene VI: Director's chair
Megaphone

Scene VII: Pine bough nailed to a board.
Blue blanket
“Tree” headbands

Scene VIII: Pine bough nailed to a board
Blue blanket
Toy piano

Scene IX: Pipe cleaner halos
Paper “Angel” wings
Rhythm instruments
Blue blanket

Scene X: Pine bough nailed to a board
“Star” headbands

Scene XI: Pine bough nailed to a board
Blue blanket

Scene XII: Beautiful, big cardboard decorated Christmas tree cutout

COSTUMES

Scene I: Red hunting hat with ear flaps
Green coat
Yellow stocking cap
Orange coat
Blue blanket

Scene II: Blue “beanie” hat
Blue coat
Red hunting hat
Green Coat

Scene III: Red hunting hat
Green coat
Snoopy costume or large stuffed animal “Snoopy”

Scene IV: Blue dress
Red hunting hat
Green coat

Scene V: Yellow shirt with zigzag
Flannel receiving blankets (shepherd's head gear)

Scene VI: Yellow shirt with zigzag
Flannel receiving blankets (shepherd's head gear)

Scene VII: Red hunting hat
Green coat
Yellow stocking cap
Blue blanket
Orange coat
Head gear for “trees”

Scene VIII: Red hunting hat
Yellow shirt with zigzag
Green coat
Yellow stocking hat
Orange coat
Blue blanket
Flannel receiving blankets (shepherd's head gear)

Scene IX: Yellow stocking cap
Orange coat
Blue blanket
Headgear for “angel band” (pipe cleaner halos and paper wings)
Collection of rhythm instruments for “angel band”

Scene X: Red hunting hat
Green coat
Headgear for “stars” (headband with with star attached)

Scene XI: Red hunting hat
Green coat
Yellow stocking cap
Orange coat
Blue blanket

Scene XII: Red hunting hat
Green coat
Yellow stocking cap
Orange coat
Blue blanket
Flannel receiving blankets (shepherd's head gear)
Blue beanie hat
Blue dress coat
Drop waist dresses



FOOTNOTES


  1. Older chorus wearing evergreen headbands.
  2. German Folk Song: CHRISTMAS SONG BOOK, Wilmington, NC, November 25, 1984
  3. Younger chorus wearing halos and paper wings
  4. Folk Song from South Carolina arranged by Albert DeVito from SOUTH CAROLINA SPIRITUALS
  5. Younger chorus wearing star headbands
  6. Piggyback song: TWINKLE, TWINKLE CHRISTMAS STAR sung to French Folk tune from THE JOY OF MUSIC
  7. English Folk Carol arranged by James Harris: WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS: Piggyback song


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