VIVA SANTA! Big Boss/Santa has become dispirited, bored with the Village's Christmas Eve concerts, a tradition reaching back over one hundred years --clanging bells, oompah band, squeaky-voiced choir. His detachment is a growing concern for the elf hierarchy, resulting in the forced retirement of the venerable Music Meister. His appointed successor, Krispin, former assistant and a playboy-at-heart, tries valiantly to escape his new duties. The plucky elf schemes to observe Santa while he surfs Christmas music from the outerworld on his great crystal ball. A sudden glitch in the ether, caused by a mysterious entity, sends an unexpected transmission to the magic orb, and Santa hears mariachis for the first time -from a concert in Texas. He is transfixed, overjoyed, dances around the room. Soon, Krispin's plan to bring the band to Santa's Village, in time for the concert, is approved by the elf hierarchy, with one small proviso. Krispin must accompany the musicians. He protests, long and loud, but without him, the band will be unable to pass through the invisible barrier surrounding the Village.
