Marie's Web Log

No time at all, but had to tell you about Meelie's 'nativity play'. We went yesterday morning to the university sports hall, where they were having it in one of the smaller rooms. They had a pretty impressive backdrop with an outline of a Bethlehem-type skyline and stars, plus a manger and some stuffed animals - and we could see 'baby Jesus' waiting on the floor under the chairs where Mary and Joseph would sit. And the 'gold, frankincense and myrrh' or, more accurately, 'gold, frankincense and a tub of red-foil covered chocolates' were waiting on a bench.

As the Val, the head of the nursery, explained, they had a very young group of children this year - mostly three or only just turned four. And 'Mary' was ill, so another little girl had to step in at the last minute. Then the other staff members came in with the children. I was in tears straight away, to see them - I was expecting maybe (for the angels) some wings and halos stuck on over their clothes, but no, they changed all the children into proper outfits - the angels had white gowns and fabric wings and gold tinsel garland on their heads. There was even a donkey in full furry costume. Amelia, of course, was the prettiest angel!

And they all did very well. They all sang the songs (even Meelie), while Val sat at the front and read the story. She had also explained at the beginning that they celebrate a variety of religious festivals throughout the year (they did Divali a little while ago) and that they told the children this is what Christians believe, which I thought was a balanced way of doing it.) There were a few tiny hitches in the show - baby Jesus was dumped rather roughly into the manger, and the angel Gabriel (who was, in a nice touch, a boy actually named Gabriel) seemed determined to divest himself of his robes and show the audience his underwear. And the poor little girl who was playing the Christmas star, and who was supposed to do a special dance, burst into tears and had to sit on Val's lap for the duration. Also, the script had a few slight deviations from the usual story, as when the wise men, 'knelt and offered the gifts to the baby, then stood up and... went to sit next to Shelley.' Shelley being one of the nursery staff.

All in all, it was wonderful. My baby's first Christmas play. I can't believe any of the others will every be that special. There will be photos, don't worry.