Up the Chimney

In Short

This play is a gentle, imaginative Christmas narrative written to be both performed by children and read as a story. It follows young siblings Polly and Jack who, after learning that Santa Claus is too ill to deliver gifts, embark on a daring journey up their own chimney to cure him. Blending practical stagecraft with a sense of wonder, the work has endured as a charming example of early 20th-century holiday theater, emphasizing the joy of service, the importance of family, and the enduring warmth of Christmas traditions.

The Story

The story opens on Christmas Eve in a cozy home. Jack and Polly are busy writing letters to Santa Claus, while their parents relax nearby. Their quiet evening is interrupted by the arrival of Nurse Mary, an elderly friend of the family who is suffering from stiff joints and an aching back. The children’s father, a doctor, offers her a special medicine, but he insists it can only be effective if administered by children. Jack and Polly happily step in, nursing the old woman back to health. As she recovers, she shares memories of the family's past and joins the children in singing "The Carol of the Friendly Beasts."

Once Nurse Mary leaves, a mysterious green-clad elf emerges from the fireplace. He delivers a sobering message: Santa Claus is at the North Pole, suffering from the same ailments that recently afflicted the nurse, and is unable to make his rounds. The elf provides the children with two magical gifts—a wishing cap and a pair of fairy spectacles—before vanishing back up the chimney. Recognizing their duty, Jack and Polly use the spectacles to reveal hidden steps in the flue and the cap to wish themselves to the North Pole.

Upon arriving at Santa’s home, they find the legendary figure looking frail and despondent, surrounded by toys he cannot deliver. The children immediately offer him the remainder of the doctor’s medicine. Santa takes the dose, and its effects are instantaneous; he is suddenly restored to his full, energetic strength. Grateful, he explains that he is aided by his wife—a detail that delights the children—and shows them his "shrinking machine," used to reduce large toys so they fit into stockings.

Santa invites the children to join him on his flight. They climb into the sleigh and, after a swift journey, descend back through their own chimney. Santa quietly fills the stockings, including those of the parents, before departing. When morning light arrives, the family gathers by the fireplace. They discover their gifts—the exact items they had requested—and share in the joy of the morning. The play concludes as they hear the "Christmas Waits" singing carols outside their window, cementing a sense of peace and communal celebration that extends from the stage to the audience.

How It Unfolds

The hearthside mission The story begins with the children fulfilling a medical task for a dear family friend, setting the stage for their future role as healers. The atmosphere is grounded in domestic warmth, which makes the subsequent appearance of the elf feel all the more startling and consequential.

The magical transit The siblings receive enchanted tools that allow them to perceive a hidden world and traverse the distance to the North Pole. This transition from the familiar, darkened living room to the fantastical realm of the snowy North marks the start of their true adventure.

The cure at the Pole Upon meeting the ailing Santa Claus, the children perform the same act of care they practiced earlier in the evening. This reinforces the theme that the Christmas spirit is not just about receiving gifts, but about the active, compassionate participation of children in the lives of others.

The journey home The return trip in the sleigh brings the narrative arc to a satisfying close, moving from the high-stakes miracle at the North Pole back to the quiet, expectant atmosphere of the family home. The final scene captures the simple, timeless joy of Christmas morning as the family discovers their gifts.

The People

Jack and Polly are the heart of the play. They are earnest and compassionate children who possess the natural, inquisitive spirit required to bridge the gap between the mundane world and the magical one. Their devotion to their family—and to Santa Claus—drives them to take risks they would otherwise never consider.

Doctor John and his wife represent the grounded, loving stability of home. The doctor provides the initial catalyst for the adventure by handing the children the medicine, while the mother provides the quiet, nurturing environment where the magic can take root.

Nurse Mary acts as the bridge between generations. Her history with the family and her role as a recipient of the children’s care establish the play's core logic: that kindness to the elderly is a precursor to the greater kindness they show Santa.

Santa Claus is portrayed not as a distant icon, but as a vulnerable, hardworking figure. His interaction with Mrs. Santa Claus adds a layer of humanity to his character, as does his appreciation for the children who come to his aid. He ends the play not just as a gift-giver, but as a grateful friend to the siblings.

In Its Own Voice

The author describes the dual purpose of the text, ensuring it remains useful for both those who wish to perform the play and those who simply want to enjoy it as a seasonal tale:

It is so arranged that boys and girls can read it to themselves, just as they would read any other story.

When Nurse Mary explains her long-standing relationship with the family, she highlights the deep, multigenerational bonds that ground the play’s sense of history:

Haven't I seen you every Christmas Eve since you were half the size of Master Jack here, and didn't I knit with my own hands the first little stocking you ever hung up for Santa Claus?

What It's Really About

The central theme of this work is the transformative power of active empathy. The play argues that the "Christmas spirit" is not a passive feeling but an intentional practice of service. By treating the medicine as a tool that only children can administer, the author suggests that the young have a unique, necessary role in maintaining the world's joy. It explores the idea that adults, even legendary ones like Santa, require the care and faith of the next generation to function. Ultimately, the story posits that magic exists in the cracks of the everyday, waiting for those—like Jack and Polly—who are willing to look with "fairy spectacles" and act with a willing heart.

Why Read It Today

This play will appeal to readers who enjoy nostalgic, wholesome holiday stories that prioritize character connection over grand spectacle. It captures a specific, charming era of early 20th-century family life, where the home was the center of the universe and imagination was the primary tool for travel.

Reading it feels like opening a dusty book of childhood memories; the dialogue is polite and earnest, and the stage directions are written with a warmth that makes the reader feel like a guest in the family’s parlor. While modern readers may notice the period-typical sentimentality or the slightly formal patterns of speech, these elements contribute to the play's unique, fireside atmosphere. The inclusion of specific instructions for scenery—like using a modified ice cream freezer for the "shrinking machine"—adds a tactile, DIY quality that makes the play feel grounded and achievable. It is a gentle reminder of a time when Christmas was celebrated through carols, small gestures of kindness, and the shared, quiet wonder of a morning filled with simple, heartfelt gifts. It remains a lovely, readable piece of history that invites the reader to slow down and consider the "happy and wholesome customs" of the season.