A first at PHS

This year's annual Breakfast With Santa tradition by PHS Theatre, sponsored by Mount Carmel Foundation, was special: It featured an original script written by junior Meghan Hess, an aspiring playwright.

Directed by senior Coral VanBecelaere, who was assisted by Alexis Daniels, the show was presented free this morning to several hundred children and parents as a Christmas gift to the community.

The plot: Santa is ill and can’t deliver presents on Christmas Eve and his brother, Nickolai arrives to take over. But Mrs. Claus remains skeptical, as do four loyal elves. When they take it upon themselves to investigate, they uncover a shocking secret: Nickolai is planning on keeping the toys for himself. Mrs. Claus, who works hard to manage just about every other aspect of life at the North Pole, believes she can take Santa's place to deliver the toys.

Santa initially scoffs at the idea, but with the elves encouragement, Mrs. Claus stands firm, gets the toys delivered on her own, and helps Nickolai see the error of his ways. In the end, Santa and the elves realize she was capable all along and pamper Mrs. Claus with breakfast in bed for a job well done.

​Following the show, the audience was treated to breakfast themselves, including muffins, fruit, cereal, milk and juice, all provided by Mount Carmel Foundation. They had a chance to greet the elves, write letters to Santa, make crafts, and sit on Santa's lap for photos.