Nativity the Musical

Nativity, The Musical is not an easy show to stage, to start with there are a total of 54 scenes, 24 in Act 1 and another 30 in Act 2, obviously a logistical nightmare, this was overcome by KAOS with the use of a video screen at the back of the stage and two more at stage right and left.

The screens worked extremely well and were really well produced to give the effects of the various scenes.

To be able to produce this show you also need to have two excellent male actors who are larger than life, especially for the part of Desmond Poppy who is engaged as a teaching assistant at St. Bernadette’s school, in fact Desmond is more like one of the pupils rather than a member of staff. James Sidgwick was out of this world, everyone believing in him throughout the whole show. He was like a very giddy school child on his first day at school.

Mr Poppy is sent to help another teacher at St Bernadette’s Paul Maddens, who believes that he can produce a Nativity which is better than their rival school, Oakmoor, however as usual things don’t go to plan so Paul Maddens tells people a Hollywood producer is to come over to make a film about their production. The part of Paul Madden was in the more than capable hands of Fraser Wilkinson, who together with James formed a formidable double act.

The story starts out when Paul Madden along with two of his student friends, Gordon Shakespeare and Jennifer Lore, who both men have fallen in love with.

As the story unfolds Gordon Shakespeare played by Matthew Finnemore and Jennifer Lore played by Anna Potton are just leaving university, Paul and Gordon go into teaching but Jennifer decides to go to America to make her mark in the film industry. We find out later, however that Jennifer’s life in the USA is not as rosy as she makes out and it turns out she is a glorified secretary.

The story moves on with much mayhem and laughter, especially when Desmond Poppy has anything to do with anything, it is revealed he has been engaged at the school by Mrs Patricia Bevan, played by Sylvia Taylor, who is actually Desmond’s aunt! Sylvia was superb in this role and managed to get every ounce of humour and pathos out of it.

During the time when staff at the school are expecting a Hollywood Producer, news gets to the local Mayor who of course is thrilled, enter John Hewitt as The Mayor who again only added to the overall enjoyment.

The children in both schools were excellent in this production and added a great deal to the overall enjoyment of the show.

Congratulations to everyone involved in this production.

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