A Child's Christmas in Wales

This adaptation was authorized by the Dylan Thomas Foundation
 
This new version of the beloved prose-poem by Dylan Thomas closely follows the original work. To open Act I, the “Adult Dylan” is reading his story out loud in a comfortable chair on the side as the words are acted out, and sometimes spoken, by actors on the stage. We see the fire in the Prothero’s house on Christmas Eve, the wonder of a snowy Christmas day as the young Dylan opens his presents, then wanders through the town, listens to church bells, plays with his friends, and meets up with the dreaded Town Hill gang of children. 
    Act II is the Christmas party, with the Uncles snoozing after their turkey dinner. The party includes “present-giving time,” games, songs and ghost stories. When the Town Hill kids are invited in while caroling, a friendship is formed between the two groups of children as they eat cake, dance and go caroling together. 
    The script for this version was approved by the Dylan Thomas Foundation (now discoverdylanthomas.com). The only restrictions were that the father not be a stereotypical Welshman, and the Aunts not be worn-out old maids. No problem in this play: The father is a Shakespeare scholar, like Dylan’s father. Aunt Hannah is a 20-something life of the party, and Miss Prothero is a young bookworm. 
    Except for the simple theme song, which is licensed with the play, the music is all in the public domain and easily downloaded from the internet. Instrumentation can be a piano, or fiddle and guitar, along with other folk instruments if desired. These can be played by cast members, or by musicians who drop in to join the party. A hand drum of some sort is needed for the song, Drake’s Drum. The original production in Tehachapi included guitar, fiddle, whistle, and bodhran, played by cast members.