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