SOAP LAKE — Masquers Theater will present a story of lost Christmas Spirit and how to find it the first two weekends in December. “Jingle Bells Jury” takes the stage at 2 p.m. Dec. 3 and 4 and 9 and 10.

Admission is $7 per person, except Dec. 10. The Dec. 10 performance will include a food drive, and kids who donate cans, boxes or bags of non-perishable food will be admitted free.

The theater is located at 322 East Main St., Soap Lake.

The play tells the story of a troubling day in the village of Candy Cane, just south of Toyland. “The Candy Cane court puts Jim Dandy (David Brush in the Masquers production) on trial because he’s lost the Christmas spirit,” said director Cheri Barbre. Jim’s loss has made him a little mouthy to boot – he’s rude to Judge Pfeffernuesse (Bevan Olstad) and the Prosecuting Attorney (Charlene Brush). The Toymaker (Steven Yakish) and Snow (Theresa Sergneri) just can’t figure out what happened. Mrs. Eggnog (Randy Brown Martin) thinks she knows – but then, Mrs. Eggnog may have been indulging in a little too much of her favorite drink.

The Magic of Christmas tries to help, and there’s a visit from Mrs. Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim. The Wise Men also stop by Candy Cane, following the track of a bright star.

“Hopefully Jim can find it again,” Barbre said. And when Santa comes – well, you know, it turns out the Christmas spirit is around after all. It just depends on knowing where to look.

“Jingle Bells Jury” opens about a month after the company’s wrap-up of its production of “The Little Mermaid.” That’s a lot of preparation and production in a relatively short time. Masquers actors and producers used to do a dramatic reading for Christmas, Barbre said. But the company decided they wanted to do a Christmas play as well.

“Jingle Bells Jury” was “pitched back in March, by me, as our Christmas play.” She liked it “because it was a little different than the normal Christmas play,” she said. “I liked the idea of the Christmas spirit being on trial.” During the holiday there’s so much going on that it’s easy to lose focus – and lose the Christmas spirit, Barbre said.

The play reminds people what Christmas means. “Faith, family and friends are what the spirit is about,” Barbre said.

People who want to attend the play are encouraged to make reservations. They can be made by calling the box office, 509-246-2611, or on the Masquers website, www.masquers.com.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].