THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF SANTA CLAUS

L. Frank Baum?s book is a charming tale about Claus?s life from his early years to how he became immortal, adapted and performed by Gayle Stahlhuth. When East Lynne Theater Company last produced this one-person tour-de-force in 2010, it was designated an "American Masterpiece": part of the National Endowment for the Arts? "Masterpieces Series". (This was the final year of this series due to lack of funds. Baum gave Claus an exciting life that evokes all the warmth and fantasy that made his "Oz" stories American classics. He took Claus out of his conventional trappings and placed him into the world of folklore, complete with fairies, gnomes and elves. In fact, it is because of Baum?s book, that Santa Claus is believed to have elves to help him. In all his books, Baum (1856-1919) tried to update the fairytale genre. Regarding the traditional stories, Baum wrote, ?the old-time fairy tale, having served for generations, may now be classed as 'historical' in the children's library; for the time has come for a series of newer 'wonder tales' in which the stereotyped genie, dwarf, and fairy are eliminated.?