A Christmas Entertainment

This was a delightful afternoon of Christmas songs and carols with the addition of sketches telling the story of the Nativity with a modern day twist and a good deal of humour. After the opening medley of Christmas songs from the members of the Performance Class we were introduced to the main characters of the Nativity through a series of sketches. Firstly Mary (Lola Brown) and Joseph (Cameron Lawson) as they attend a session with Emma Thomson’s Counsellor to get Joseph to accept the concept of the Immaculate Conception – not an easy task! Next we encounter Melchior (Mika Drummond) - one of the Three Wise Dudes – as he returns home to face the wrath of his wife (Holly Thomson) after having been out all night observing a wondrous star. Then we were treated to the humorous analysis of the Shepherds’ (Peter May, Isla MacGillvray-Kinnaird and Noah Campbell) encounter with the Angel Host by the experts -Theologian (Alex McRobb), Psychologist (Anna Young) and Farmers Union Rep (Imogen Watt). In the next sketch we find the Three Wise Dudes (Mika Drummond, Maximus Boyle and Elliott Robertson) arrive in Bethlehem where they are sent from place to place until eventually arriving at the crowded inn. Interspersed with these sketches we were treated to the hilarious sight of Andrew Saunders Choirmaster trying to get an unruly class of school kids (the Musical Class) do a boogie version of the carol “In The Bleak Midwinter “ plus a beautiful rendition of “Silent Night “ by the Performance Class. The second half of the performance opened with a delightful rendition of Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Tree” by Pamela Green. This was closely followed by Choir Practice 2 in which the kids of the Musical Class democratically over-ruled Andrew Saunders to perform their alternative lyrics to “The Angel Gabriel” over the originals to much hilarity. We were also treated to an outstanding performance of an arrangement by Musical Director Alisdair Sneden of “Away in the Manger” by the Performance Class full of beautiful harmonies. The sketches in the second half found us in the Inn where we discovered from Anna Young’s Emperor the reason why so many were in Bethlehem and in the stable where Mary and Joseph encountered their first interaction with the paparazzi in the shape of Imogen Watt’s overbearing photographer. Incidental music between the items was provided by the excellent musicians Alisdair Sneden on Keyboard/Accordion and George Davidson on Fiddle. The whole event was rounded off with a wonderful medley of songs from “White Christmas” including “Snow”, my favourite “Sisters” (by Emma, Imogen and Pamela) and a tear-jerking rendition of “White Christmas”. Congratulations to everyone involved for an excellent production which left the audience full of the joys of Christmas.

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