The Little Devils
Synopsis: A short satire play about the commercialization of Christmas.
Excerpt:
SANTA: Ho, ho, ho! Special delivery, for Jan Frank. Courtesy of Santa Claus Incorporated. (He hands Jan) a wrapped box. Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!
(Santa grabs John’s glass of egg-nog off the living room table and chugs it before exiting, the reindeer following behind him.)
JAN: Oh, my. What could it be? It’s so heavy. (She opens it.) Oh my goodness. Look! It’s a baby girl. The Lord sent us a precious baby girl! Oh, isn’t she just adorable? We’ll call her Mary, after the Virgin. Look, dear!
(She shows John the baby, which is actually a Little Devil in disguise. It is dressed in a doll’s dress, with pointy red ears and a devil’s fork.)
JAN: Isn’t she just precious?
JOHN: Oh, I’m so happy! A baby girl, a daughter! A little Virgin dropped into our hands. Oh, she’s beautiful Jan. My own little Virgin. Look, boys, your little sister. Praise the Lord!
JIMMY: A sister? Way cool! Maybe she can join my Christian rock band when she’s old enough! We need a backup singer. That’d be hecka sweet.
(The lights dim and a spotlight goes on Jimmy. A glowing electric guitar lowers from above him. He holds it and colored lights begin to flash. He plays guitar like he is the star in a rock band, as heavy metal sounds, lip-singing to a voice screaming, “Jesus! Jesus!” After several moments the lights come back up and the guitar is raised back up.)
(As John and Jan continue to fondle the Devil, other Little Devils begin to climb in through the windows and from under the tree. They have evil little giggles. They are actually puppets, but with a fake, unreal feel to them.)
JAMES: Oh my God, Mom. Look at those! What the heck are they? Ahhh! Mom! Look!
(He runs to the couch between Jan and John and jumps up in between them.)
JAN: What the hell! They’re…. oh my they’re Little Devils! There’s Little Devils all over, John. Do something! Look out Jimmy! Look out for the Little Devils!
(Jimmy jumps up, as Little Devils begin to surround him. He runs to the couch and jumps onto it, squishing himself in between John and James.)