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Yes Virginia,
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Matt Salton (left) and Grant Buckler. |
Inspired by a simple, poignant letter written over 100 years ago by eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon to the editor of the New York Sun—and by the timeless editorial response printed on the front page of the Sun.
L-R: Rachel Hackett, Alexis Clayfield, Madeline Kerr, Katie Kerr and Claire Cooper. |
It is Christmas 1897 and Virginia's life is in need of some light and hope. Her father James has lost his job. Her family lives in a cramped, shabby apartment. Her friends have told her there is no Santa Claus, and she doesn't know what to believe, but her father tells her that "If you see it in the Sun, it's so." So she writes to the Sun and asks: "Please tell me the truth. Is there a Santa Claus."
Virginia isn't the only one whose life needs some light and hope. Francis P. Church was, in his editor's words, "the best newspaperman who ever worked for me or anyone else." But last Christmas Eve his wife and newborn daughter died. Since then, Frank has barely been able to work and begun drinking heavily.
Then Ed Mitchell, editor of the Sun, hands him Virginia's letter and asks him to write a reply. The result brings hope to both Virginia and Frank—and proves wrong Frank's gloomy assertion that "Nothing that you or I or anybody else writes for a newspaper has a life span of more than 24 hours."
Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus is a play for young and old, magically reaffirming life's highest beauty and joy—"the eternal light with which childhood fills the world."
Andrew J. Fenady was born in Toledo, Ohio, in 1928 and appeared in many plays while studying literature and economics at the University of Toledo. He then acted in summer stock theatre and toured with a Shakespearian company, before going to Hollywood to write for films and television.
His output included several westerns and he worked with John Wayne on films such as Chisum. He also co-wrote the screenplay for Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus, which became the basis for the stage version.
He also wrote novels, including The Man With Bogart's Face, winner of the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar award. He also won the Western Writers of America's Wister Award in 2006 for lifetime achievement.