This is the story of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, the ninth reindeer to join Santa’s sleigh.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was written in 1939 by a department store copyrighter, Robert Lewis May. He wrote it at his manager’s request for Montgomery Ward department store’s first Christmas children’s book. It is a classic underdog story, a reindeer with an inconveniently red nose, shunned for his glow.

Very sadly Mr May lost his wife to cancer before finishing the story. The department store wanted to take over the project, but Mr May said no: “I need Rudolph now more than ever.” And it went on to be one of the most treasured Christmas stories of all time. May continued to struggle to meet his bills until the department store, in a remarkable act of generosity, signed over the rights to Mr May. His brother-in-law, a composer, then wrote “that” Christmas song, and Rudolph went on to star in his own animation feature (and many more). Rudolph saved Mr May and his family and has gone on to look after them for generations. And he has become one of the most-loved members of Santa’s team.

For many of our friends and family it has been a difficult year and for many there are some missing places at the Christmas table. So we would like to acknowledge that one tiny reindeer and how he went on to triumph. Maybe we all need Rudolph … maybe  now more than ever.

By Robert Lewis May (from the original manuscript).

Twas the day before Christmas and all through the hills

The reindeer were playing … enjoying the spills

Of skating and coasting, and climbing the willows …

And hop-scotch and leap-frog (protected by pillows)

While every so often they’d stop to call names

At one little deer not allowed in their games:

“Ha ha! Look at Rudolph! His nose is a sight!”

“It’s red as a beet!” “Twice as big!” Twice as bright!”

While Rudolph just wept. What else could he do?

 He knew that the things they were saying were true!

Where most reindeers’ noses are brownish and tiny,

Poor Rudolph’s was red, very large, and quite shiny.

In daylight it dazzled (the picture shows that!)

At night time it glowed, like the eyes of a cat.

And putting dirt on it just made it look muddy.

(Oh boy was he mad when they nicknamed him “Ruddy”)

Although he was lonesome, he always was good …

Obeying his parents, as good reindeer should.

That’s why on this day, Rudolph almost felt playful:

He hoped that from Santa (soon driving his sleighful

Of presents and candy, dollies and toys,

For good little animals, good girls and boys)

He’d get just as much … and this is what pleased him,

As the happier, handsomer reindeer who teased him.

As night, and a fog hid the world like a hood,

He went to bed hopeful; he knew he’d been good!

While way, way up North on this same foggy night,

Old Santa was packing his sleight for its flight.

“This fog,” he complained, “will be hard to get through,”

He shook his round head. (And his tummy shook too)

“Without any stars or a moon as a compass,

This extra dark night is quite likely to swamp us.

To keep from collisions, we’ll have to fly slow.

To keep our direction, we’ll have to fly low.

We’ll steer by the street lamps and houses tonight

In order to finish before it gets light.

Just think how the boys’ and girls’ faith would be shaken,

If we didn’t reach ‘em before they awaken!

Come Dasher! Come Dancer! Come Prancer and Vixen!

Come Comet! Come Cupid! Come Donner and Blitzen!

Be quick with your suppers! Get hitched in a hurry!

You, too, will find fog a delay and a worry!”

And Santa was right (as he usually is)

The fog was as thick as a soda’s white fizz.

Just not getting lost required all Santa’s skill …

With street signs and numbers more difficult still.

He tangled in tree-tops again and again,

And barely missed hitting a tri-motored plane.

He still made good speed, with much twisting and turning,

As long as the street lamps and house lights were burning.

At each house, first noting the people who live there,

He’d quickly select the right presents to give there.

By midnight, however, the last light had fled.

For even big people have then gone to bed.

Because it might wake them, a match was denied him.

Oh my how he wished for just one star to guide him!

Through dark streets and houses old, Santa fared poorly.

He now picked the presents more slowly, less surely.

He really was worried, for what would he do

If folks started waking before he was through?

The air was still foggy, the night dark and drear,

When Santa arrived at the home of the deer.

A ledge that he tripped on while seeking the chimney

Gave Santa a spill and a painfully skinned knee.

The room he came down in was blacker than ink,

He went for a chair and then found it a sink!

The first reindeer bedroom was so very black.

He tripped on the rug and fell flat on his back.

So dark that he had to move close to the bed,

And squint very hard on the sleeping deer’s head.

Before he could choose the right kind of toy,

(A doll for a girl, or a train for a boy.)

But all this took time, and filled Santa with gloom,

While slowly he groped toward the next reindeer’s room.

The door he’d just opened … when to his surprise,

A dim but quite definite light met his eyes.

The light wasn’t burning, the glow came instead

From something that lay at the head of the bed.

And there lay … but wait now! What would you suppose?

The glowing (you’ve guessed it) was Rudolph’s red nose!

So this room was easy, this one little light

Let Santa pick quickly the gifts that were right.

How happy he was, till he went out the door …

The rest of the house was as black as before!

So black that it made every step a dark mystery.

And then came the greatest idea in all history!

He went back to Rudolph and started to shake him

(Of course very gently) in order to wake him.

And Rudolph could scarcely believe his own eyes!

You can just imagine his joy and surprise

At seeing who stood there, so real and so near,

While telling the tale we’ve already told here:

Poor Santa’s sad tale of distress and delay …

The fog and the darkness, and losing the way …

“And you,” he told Rudolph, “may yet save the day.

Your wonderful forehead may yet pave the way.

For a wonderful triumph! It actually might!”

(Old Santa, you notice, was extra polite

To Rudolph, regarding his “wonderful forehead.”

To call it a “big shiny nose” would sound horrid!)

“I need you,” said Santa, “to help me tonight …

To lead all my deer on the rest of our flight!”

And Rudolph broke out into such a big grin,

It almost connected his ears and his chin!

A note for his folks he dashed off in a hurry,

“I’ve gone to help Santa,” he wrote, “Do not worry!”

Said Santa, “My sleigh I’ll bring down to the lawn,

You’d stick in the chimney” and flash … he was gone!

So Rudolph pranced out through the door … very gay

And took his proud place at the head of the sleigh.

The rest of the night … well what would you guess!

Old Santa’s idea was a brilliant success.

And “brilliant” was almost no word for the way

That Rudolph directed the deer and the sleigh.

In spite of the fog, they flew quickly and low

And made such use of the wonderful glow.

From Rudolph’s … er … forehead at each intersection,

That not even once did they lose their direction!

While as for the houses and streets with a sign on ‘em,

They merely flew close so that Rudolph could shine on ‘em

To tell who lived where, and just what to give whom,

They’d fly by each window and peek in the room.

Old Santa knew always which children were good,

And minded their parents and ate as they should.

So Santa selected the gift that was right,

While Rudolph’s … er … forehead … just gave enough light.

It all went so fast, that before it was day,

The very last present was given away …

The very last stocking was filled to the top …

Just as the sun was preparing to pop.

The sun woke the reindeer in Rudolph’s home town …

They found the short message that he’d written down …

Then gathered outside to await his return.

And were they excited, astonished, to learn

That Rudolph, the ugliest deer of them all,

(Rudolph the Red-nose, … bashful and small …

The funny-faced fellow they’d always called names,

And practically never allowed in their games)

Was now to be envied by all, far and near,

For no greater honour can come to a deer

Than riding with Santa and guiding his sleigh,

The number-one job on the number-one day!

The sleigh and its reindeer soon came into view,

And Rudolph still led them, as downward they flew.

Oh boy, was he proud as they came to a landing

Right where his handsome playmates were standing.

These bad deer who used to do nothing but tease him

Would now have done anything only to please him.

They felt even sorrier they had been bad

When Santa said, “Rudolph, I never have had

A deer quite so brave or so brilliant as you

At fighting black fog and at guiding me through.

By YOU last night’s journey was actually bossed.

Without you, I’m certain, we’d all have been lost.

I hope you’ll continue to keep us from grief

On future dark trips as Commander-in-Chief!”

But Rudolph just blushed from his head to his toes

Until his whole fur was as red as his nose!

The crowd first applauded, then started to screech …

“Hurray for our Rudolph,” and “We want a speech!”

But Rudolph was bashful, despite being a hero!

And tired! (His sleep on the trip totalled zero.)

So that’s why his speech was just brief and not bright,

“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

And that’s why …. Whenever it’s foggy and grey,

It’s Rudolph the Red-nose who guides Santa’s sleigh.

Be listening this Christmas! (But don’t make a peep …

‘cause that late at night, children should be asleep!).

The very first sound that you’ll hear on the roof

(Provided there’s fog) will be Rudolph’s small hoof.

And soon after that (if you’re still as a mouse)

You may hear a “swish” as he flies ‘round the house.

And gives enough light to give Santa a view

Of you and your room. And when they’re all through,

You may hear them call, as they drive out of sight,

“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM

BE THAT DOG!

Cast:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer ……….. Howard Spring (aka Underdog)

Santa Claus / Reindeer …………………………. Huw Le Lytle

Reindeer / Tri-Motored Plane ……………… Jefferson Airplane

Reindeer ……………………………………………….. Aubrey Beardsley

Cat …………………………………………………………. Poly Styrene

Elf ………………………………………………………….. Elf

Production:

Director …………………………………………………. Aubrey Beardsley

Producer ……………………………………………….. Bulldog Drummond

Wardrobe / Props / Catering ………………… Human