Mrs. Santa Claus

Mrs. Santa Claus (1996) starring Angela Lansbury, Charles Durning, Michael Jeter

Angela Lansbury stars in Mrs. Santa Claus, and proves it takes two to make Christmas run smoothly. At the North Pole, her contributions go unappreciated as Santa prepares for the biggest night of the year. She takes the sleigh to check out a new route. But when one of the reindeer is injured, she must make an emergency landing in New York City. Mrs Claus immediately begins to spin her holiday magic just like she did at the North Pole, while warming the hearts of New Yorkers. Back at the North Pole, Santa (Charles Durning) is lost without her. Even his trusty elf (Michael Jeter) can’t fill her shoes. With Christmas Eve just around the corner, they desperately want her back and they really need the sleigh! What will it take to get her home in time?

Product Description 

It s sometimes said that behind every great man there s a great woman. But then there’s Mrs. Santa Claus, who s not content to stay behind. She’s out front, using her special talents. Angela Lansbury stars in Jerry Herman s delightful musical about a woman who proves even Santa needs help to make Christmas run smoothly.

Mrs. Santa Claus: [takes Nora aside] I have to go now, sweetheart.
Nora Kilkenny: All right, I’ll see you tomorrow.
Mrs. Santa Claus: Actually, I’m going back home.
Nora Kilkenny: But you can’t go! Not yet!
Mrs. Santa Claus: Someone back home really needs me. Now, don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten. I still have presents for you and the other kids.
Nora Kilkenny: Will I ever see you again?
Mrs. Santa Claus: Oh, I hope so. In the meantime, when you look up at the evening sky, and you see a star. You’ll know who I’m thinking of. [hugs Nora goodbye]

Editorial review courtesy of Amazon.com

Much closer to Hello, Dolly! than your usual Christmas special, Mrs. Santa Claus joins two distinct genres: holiday family fare and the Broadway musical. This song-studded extravaganza was especially designed for TV by Broadway legend Jerry Herman, whose songs are just as incorrigibly catchy on the small screen as they are on the stage. Herman uses one of his favorite leading ladies from the theater,

Angela Lansbury, in a tale of Santa’s “invisible wife,” who takes the reindeer off for an impulsive week-long adventure in New York City. Unexpectedly becoming a suffragette and labor organizer (it’s set in the early 20th century), Mrs. Claus twinkles merrily at all who cross her path. This is a problem, dramatically speaking, because what’s compelling about someone who twinkles all the time? The costumes are by Bob Mackie (duh), the choreography by Chicago director Rob Marshall. And just try to get the melodies out of your head. –Robert Horton

Cast of characters

• Angela Lansbury (Gaslight, The Picture of Dorian Gray) … Mrs. Santa Claus aka. Mrs. North. The central protagonist who helps everyone she meets. A lovable, likable character.
• Michael Jeter (The Green Mile) … Arvo. Santa’s head elf, who tries to cover for Mrs. Claus as she’s missing.
• Terrence Mann (Critters) … Augustus P. Tavish. The tight-fisted, Scrooge-like factory owner. He treats his child workers poorly, and makes the lowest quality toys possible.
• Lynsey Bartilson … Nora Kilkenny. The young girl, missing her mother. Her father’s working two full-time jobs to earn the money to bring the rest of the family to America. She and Mrs. Claus bond sweetly.
• Bryan Murray … Officer Doyle
• David Norona … Marcello Damaroco. The young stablehand taking care of the reindeer. And he’s romantically interested in:
• Debra Wiseman … Sadie Lowenstein. The landlady’s daughter, trying to rouse women into being suffragettes.
• Charles Durning (The Muppet Movie) … Santa Claus. So busy preparing for Christmas Eve that he doesn’t even notice that Mrs. Claus is missing for two days. But he truly loves her, misses her, and worries about her.
• Rosalind Harris (Fiddler on the Roof) … Mrs. Lowenstein. The Jewish landlady that Mrs. North is staying with. She celebrates Hanukkah, not Christmas … But she’s enjoying it more than she thinks she should!
• Grace Keagy … Mrs. Brandenheim
• Linda Kerns (Mulan 1998) … Mrs. Shaughnessy
• Chachi Pittman … Izzy
• Sabrina Bryan (The Cheetah Girls) … Fritzie
• Bret Easterling … Emilio
• Mitchah Williams … Henry
• Kristi Lynes (Alice in Wonderland 1985) … Elf #1
• Jamie Torcellini … Elf #2
• Mick Murray … Michael Kilkenny. Nora’s hard-working father.
• Ken Kerman … Stage Doorman
• John Wheeler (Apollo 13) … Man in Santa Suit
• Tony Perrotta … Italian Neighbor
• Jean Kaufman … Jewish Neighbor
• Stacy Sullivan … Miss MacGonnigle

Songs

• Praise Mrs. Claus
  • Music and Lyric by Jerry Herman
  • Performed by Michael Jeter, Kristi Lynes, Jamie Torcellini, Angela Lansbury and company
• Mrs. Santa Claus
  • Music and Lyric by Jerry Herman
  • Performed by Angela Lansbury
• Avenue A
  • Music and Lyric by Jerry Herman
  • Performed by David Norona, Grace Keagy, Linda Kerns, Angela Lansbury and company
• Tavish Toy
  • Music and Lyric by Jerry Herman
  • Performed by Terrence Mann, Sabrina Bryan, Lynsey Bartilson, Chachi Pittman, Mitchah Williams and company
• Almost Young
  • Music and Lyric by Jerry Herman
  • Performed by Angela Lansbury, Sabrina Bryan, Lynsey Bartilson, Chachi Pittman, Mitchah Williams and company
• Time For A Vote
  • Music and Lyric by Jerry Herman
  • Performed by Grace Keagy, Linda Kerns, Angela Lansbury, Debra Wiseman, and company
• We Don’t Go Together
  • Music and Lyric by Jerry Herman
  • Performed by Debra Wiseman and David Norona
• Whistle
  • Music and Lyric by Jerry Herman
  • Performed by Angela Lansbury and Lynsey Bartilson
• Dear Mrs. Claus
  • Music and Lyric by Jerry Herman
  • Performed by Charles Durning
• He Needs Me
  • Music and Lyric by Jerry Herman
  • Performed by Angela Lansbury
• The Best Christmas Of All
  • Music and Lyric by Jerry Herman
  • Performed by Angela Lansbury and Charles Durning
• We Need a Little Christmas
  • instrumental, played when the elves try to cheer up Santa Claus