Feature
December
15
Mrs. Claus Comes to Town
by Terry Trahan Jr.
She’s that friendly face baking cookies in Santa’s toy shop as the elves work overtime to fill last-minute orders. She’s that old-fashioned, grandmother-like lady sharing Christmas stories with the boys and girls on the good list.
She’s Mrs. Claus ... and she’s coming to town.
Sue Peace has been playing the role of Mrs. Claus in south Louisiana for the past nine years. As a professional storyteller, she has visited libraries, malls, local retailers, birthday parties and even worked with photographers to capture the humble spirit of the beloved Christmas figure.
Peace also has a few stops planned this year, including the Terrebonne Parish Library’s East Houma Branch, 778 Grand Caillou Road, at 10 a.m. Dec. 17, and the library’s Bourg Branch, 4405 St. Andrew St., at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 19. Her appearances as Mrs. Clause are supported by funds from the Terrebonne Consolidated Government as administered by the Houma Regional Arts Council.
“Some of the children are really afraid of Santa, but they’re not afraid of Mrs. Claus,” Peace said about the character. She developed her role as a way to entertain children and put a smile on their faces for the Christmas season.
To capture the look of a Southern Mrs. Claus, Peace dons her signature half glasses, sprays her hair gray and tucks a feather in her dusty-colored do. It’s there for the spectacle, but it, too, has a purpose.
“The kids write Santa Claus letters when I visit,” Peace said. “I personally hand-deliver the letters to Santa.”
The local actress briefly slips into character as she rehearses the monologue she will share with her pre-kindergarten audience. The only thing missing is the red velvet gown.
She has one of those, too. While developing her own role as Mrs. Claus, Peace had a customized red velvet gown made, complete with white fur. To keep the costume truly Southern, she chose a short-sleeve pattern.
“I had to remember to keep it cool because I was going to be in the South,” Peace said.
In keeping with Christmas tradition, she brings her own red bag filled with toys and distributes them to the children in her audience. But that’s not the real treat. As Peace sits down and begins to share traditional tales, she watches as mouths open up and eyes stare in constant wonderment.
“When you see their faces, that’s when you really see hope,” she said. “For that moment of time, I am Mrs. Claus.”
Peace acts out classics like “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” “The 12 Days of Christmas” and “The Littlest Christmas Tree,” in addition to a few of her personal favorites, including “The Warm Fuzzies.” These feel-good stories connect with her young audience and help to spread the spirit of the season.
“It’s probably one of the highlights of my year,” she said. “You have to have a love of children. And that’s something I do. I love their spontaneity. I love that excitement that only the children can bring.”
Peace has entertained children as a professional storyteller for the past 10 years. She has also been involved with both professional and community theater, and currently serves as director of the United Methodist Children’s Learning Center in Houma.
