. all rights belong to Tanis Harms –
. refer to www.church-skits.com
GIFTS FROM THE TOY MAKER – NOTES
. - written by Tanis Harms
PREMISE: The toy maker creates his toys
. with the hope that they will bring joy
. to the kids who get them. In turn,
. that brings him joy. Retiring for the day,
. the lights go out, and the toys come to life.
. A renegade puppet lures the rest of the toys
. into a life of selfishness. When they see
. that this existence is not what it pretends
. to be, and there isn’t really joy to be found
. in that, they decide to live the life
. that the toy maker purposed for them.
STYLE: musical fantasy, comedy (allegory)
SCRIPTURE: Gal.5:1-26; 1 Cor.12:1-4, 14:1-12; Eph.5:9,
. James 3:17;
TOPIC: God blesses us with gifts and fruit which
. are to be used for serving Him and others.
. He also gives us the freedom to choose.
CAST / SEX (if uppercase, it must be that sex):
. M TOY MAKER (tender & loving)
. CLIENT (kind, compassionate)
. (BAD NATURE / GOOD NATURE)
. m PUPPET: lying / truthful in tongues
. m SUPERHERO: weak / powerful leader
. F BALLERINA: rough / gentle teacher
. m CLOWN angry / joyful
. F NURSE: vengeful / merciful, prayerful
. m SOLDIER: self-centered/ selfless, helpful
. F ACCESSORY MARGIE: rude/ carrying and kind
. M BUSINESS BEN: foolish / wise, discerning
. m COWBOY: unreasonable / level-headed
. m INDIAN: contentious / healing
. M RAGBOY: partial / encouraging peacekeeper
. F RAGGIRL: hypocritical / honest
. CAT: impatient / patient
. DOG: betrayer / faithful
. BABY: bad / good
. F NANNY CARRIE BOBKINS: mean / loving, practical
. 2
COSTUMES: Dolls should be dressed as close as possible
. to the actors. If you cannot find a 6” G.I.JOE,
. Johnny West and Indian, then use Ken dolls
. with the appropriate matching costumes.
. (have extra clown noses on hand)
SET: (click here to see drawing of possible set)
. Main stage looks identical to workbench.
. To make the set look interesting (optional)
. build a shelf along the back edge of the desk,
. On stage approx.: 4’ high, 3’ deep, 20’ long.
. Dividers/braces would form cubbyholes
. at the bottom, approx. every 4’.
. All props are be scaled up for the main stage,
. except for the dolls - who are the actors.
. You can find/build boxes of varying heights
. to act as steps at either one or both ends.
SET PIECES:
. – CLOTH/DRAPE (same color. Drapes are the easiest.
. If you don’t have drapes use a very light cloth.
. You may need to set up some guide wires
. so when puppet pulls the cloth off the actors,
. it doesn’t disturb props, hair, costumes, etc.
. When the cloth is put back at the end, it isn’t
. as particular.
. - INDEX CARD BOX (build, doesn’t have to open,
. 3’ x 5’, x 3 1/2’ high. Labeled “index cards”.
. Or make another size labeled “paints”, etc.
. It can be as colorful as desired, but should
. match the one on the workbench)
. - CUP (can use plastic trash can, it would be
. a good idea to put weights at the bottom)
. – MINIATURE CARDS and BOX (cards should be
. cardboard or heavy poster paper,
. approx. 13 x 16 or 8 1/2 x 11 inches,
. the bigger size would get a bigger laugh.
. For the box, use a cardboard box, or make
. a wooden box if you want to use it as a stool
. or another prop for BEN or NANNY, etc.)
. 3
. – TUBE OF GLUE (make with 2 stuffed trash bags,
. nib & cap can be made with construction paper)
. – WARDROBE (buy a cardboard moving wardrobe box
. that opens with a “door”. Use cardboard box
. as a drawer at the bottom to hold stuff.
. Paint with bright pinks, flowers, etc.
. with “Accessory Margie” on the door.
. Hang some pieces of clothing on the rod.
. Only exterior needs to be identical.)
. – You can be creative and add other pieces
. if you wish, ie. tin with paintbrushes, pencils,
. spools of thread with needle stuck in it...
EXTRA PROPS FOR STAGE RIGHT:
. – box or carrying bag for dolls to be put into
. at the end of the play (only for stage right)
. – IF YOU CAN FIND: cowboy’s guitar & bonfire,
. Indian’s tom-toms, nanny’s carpetbag,
. Ben’s briefcase, soldier’s walkie-talkie
. NOTE: if you cannot find these items doll-sized,
. these props for the main stage can be stored
. (hidden) in the cubby hole with the glue.
. If you don’t have the ledge, behind these
. behind the wardrobe.
PROPS FOR MAIN STAGE:
. – puppet “strings”/light ropes (hidden at first
. in one of the cubbyholes)
. – purse
. – briefcase
. – big carpetbag
. – rags
. - 4 scarves
. – extra possible items: hats, gloves, shoes...
. – extra possible items: “fake” food items (empty),
. cereal boxes, tin cans, (like Barbie would have)
. 4
. – “plastic” props (which CAN be spray painted,
. I will list them according to color though):
. - green walkie-talkie
. - red teacup and teapot
. – red “open” book
. (pages stuck together on each side)
. - yellow rattle
. - yellow baby bottle
. - brown tom-toms
. - brown guitar
. – brown bonfire with fake looking fire
. (for logs use floating noodles painted brown,
. flames can be foam painted red and yellow)
. - light blue calculator
. - light blue cell phone
. - pink mirror (mirror side is tin foil),
. - pink brush
. - pink iPod with cord and “ear-set”
. - pink radio
. - pink “open” magazine (pages stuck together)
. – possible pink extra stuff: comb, blow dryer,
. record player, LPs, dishes, electric guitar...
NOTES ON MUSIC:
- I have taken accessible Christmas carols that you should
not require getting the rights to use. It is up to you
to make sure you have the proper permission (if needed).
- I have re-written the words to these songs,
which are found in the script as you go.
- Also, to match with the scene, change the style
of how the song is played.
- If you choose, I give you permission to write
original music to my words.
SONG TITLE SUNG TO:
- #1 “I AM DOING SOMETHING BAD” “Good King Wenceslas”
- #2 “THE WAY YOU SHOULD” “Deck the Halls”
- #3 “FIND YOUR OWN BLISS” “White Christmas”
- #4 “HOMESTEAD OKAY RANCH” “Winter Wonderland”
- #5 “OH BABY DOLL” “O Christmas Tree”
- #6 “THIS IS MINE” “Jingle Bells”
- #7 “HELP OURSELVES” “Have Yourself a Merry
. Little Christmas”
. (Bing Crosby’s word order)