KEY POINTS:
It's not every day that you're playing in the park and Santa appears - so when it happens you shout the jolly fellow's name out, throw yourself around his legs and beg for a picture.
Actor Tim Raby, a veteran of more than 40 plays, TV shows and
films, last played Santa in 1992, so the kids' reaction when he steps outside rehearsals for The Santa Claus Show is a timely reminder of the big guy's continuing attraction.
Raby's co-star Ashley Hawkes says Santa is like a rock star to kids. That's one of the reasons The Santa Claus Show is being performed for the fifth time, but it's also about establishing new traditions, says the show's writer, director and producer, Tim Bray.
"Christmas is all about tradition. We put up trees decorated with the same decorations, sing the same songs and sit down to a meal with the same menu as the Christmas before so why not see the same show?
"Kids watch the same DVDs over and over and over again and continue to find them fun and enjoyable."
Not that the show is quite the same as when Bray wrote it in the early 1990s. This year - courtesy of its youngest stars, brother and sister Connor (10) and Maya Lamb (6) - there's a hip-hop dance where Santa demonstrates he can krump with the best of them.
But at its heart The Santa Claus Show remains a morality tale for the Yuletide season. Kelly (Elle Harris) and Alana (Bridget Pyc) are best friends but Kelly has the longest Christmas wish-list Alana and Santa have even seen. Santa decides to fly Kelly to the North Pole to teach her the true meaning of Christmas.
Bray named the two girls in the play after his two nieces, Kelly and Alana Tisdall. It was performed in 1991 and 1992 with Raby playing Santa.
Bray revived the production in 2004 and it has been staged at the PumpHouse each year since.
Raby welcomes the opportunity to bring Santa to life again.
"I loved playing Santa and seeing the magic of children's reactions to Santa Claus and keeping that magic alive for children.
"I adored Santa when I was a child and it is a challenge to bring him to life for children. Santa is all gentleness, and anything he says is with love and kindness."
Likewise, the show's younger stars are enthusiastic about making magic for the littlies.
"My sister is 7 and she and her friends are all talking about how much they want to see the show," says Bridget, 14.
They admit they are nervous about the responsibility of doing a good job.
Elle, 16, who sang with her mum Angela Ayers at last year's Christmas in the Park, says she is probably more apprehensive about this performance than one in front of thousands of people.
"I had mum with me and she's like my comfort blanket but she's been pretty busy with Menopause the Musical so it's just me this time round."
The Santa Claus Show is the third in a series of professional children's theatre productions presented by Tim Bray Productions in 2006 following The Man Whose Mother Was a Pirate! and The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch.
As usual, kids are encouraged to take an active role and can come dressed as their favourite Christmas characters.
* The Santa Claus Show at the PumpHouse Theatre, Takapuna, Dec 15-23; gala opening Fri, 7pm, with shows 4.30pm daily and extra 6.30pm shows Dec 21-23
