Uncommercialized Christmas

Christmas has become hectic, commercialized and expensive.

Has Christmas simply become a time to overspend and underappreciate the real meaning of the Christmas season?  Isn’t the reason for Christmas . . . “This do in remembrance of me?”

Cast: 3, male or female, 20’s to middle age

• Phil
• Bill
• Will

 Bible Reference:  Luke 2: 19-20

Set: blank

Props:  Christmas decorations

Time: 7

Sample of script

Will comes on stage struggling with an armload of Christmas decorations, they fall out of his arms, he tries to pick them up

Phil and Bill come on stage

Phil:  Here, let me give you a hand Will.

Bill:   Are you planning to sell these Christmas decorations, Will?

Will:   Sell? . . What are you talking about Bill, I just bought these for decorating my living room. . . And I have another big load to bring in yet.

Bill: All this, in your living room?

Phil:    I have been in your living room Will. . . It is tiny. . . No way you’ll have room for all this.

Will:  No room? . .  Phil, maybe you are forgetting . . . it is . . Christmas! . . . And when it is . . . Christmas . .  we need to . . . celebrate! . . . Duh!

Phil:         I get that Will . . . but do you think just maybe you might be going a bit overboard?

Will:         What is with you guys? . .  How often does Christmas come around at your house?

Bill:         Christmas comes once a year for us, but the reminder of Christmas must come every time you read your credit card statement.

Will:         Not so Bill! . . . Oh I admit that in past years we used to have a huge credit card bill to pay for Christmas, but no more. . . uh uhh!

Bill:         Care to share your secret? . . . Won the ( name of local lottery)? . . . Rich uncle died and left you a few mill?

Will:         Like that’s gonna happen! . . Nope, this year I went out and took out a second mortgage on my house. . .  No more credit card bills for this kid, I tell yuh!

Phil:         Okkkkkkk . . .  Let’s leave the financial behind for a minute, . . .  difficult though that is to do. . . . A logistical question? . . . Where do you plan to store all this stuff when Christmas is over?

Will:         Oh no, we don’t hold on to Christmas decorations. . . After Christmas we give all the decorations away, start from scratch next year.

Bill:         But you had to mortgage your house for this stuff this year . . where are you going to get the money for Christmas next year?

Will, frowns, thinks:
Well, actually, the fact is we haven’t entirely thought that through just yet. But no matter, we kinda like living in the now. . . Know what I mean?

Phil:         It pains me but I think I do know what you mean.

Will:         The big expensive part of Christmas is still to come. . . Presents for the family. . . , Man but presents are expensive nowadays! Last year I spent close to $300 on each of my 4 kids. And with inflation, I just shudder to think what the damages will be this Christmas!

Bill, shock:    $300? . . . Whoa! . .

Will:         Well look Bill; you got 5 kids and a wife, you trying to tell me you got away with spending less than $300 on each of them?

Bill:         Janet and I spent less than $300 on our total Christmas gifts for the entire family.

Will, shock:    $300? . . . On the entire family? . . . Now look Bill, far be it from me to tell you how to live your life, but my thinking is kids deserve better at Christmas.

Phil:         You have young children Will. What could you buy them that would cost $300?

Will:         Oh that is where you are badly wrong, Phil. Even little Janey, she just turned three, we bought her “Hurry Up Barbie” complete with an electric car. . .  I gotta tell you, that is some amazing toy! . . . Well, at least it was until the electric motor in the car shorted out and burned up the car, and Barbie . . and a big hole in the living room carpet.