Having just returned from a double header of primary school Christmas performances for my oldest two, I can honestly say I think am more relieved than they are.
Thankfully my son, now 7 years old, has no aspirations in the performing arts. Asked if there was anyone in the class who didn’t want a talking part, I believe he was on it in a flash, and I can’t say I blame him. In his mind, why would you put yourself through that stress when you don’t have to?
He (or should I say, we) learnt the numerous songs, tunes and dances pretty well during December. Although, as ‘sheep 4’ he was not the leading star of the show, he did have to perform a fairly complex synchronised dance routine with several other animals on stage. As the big moment arrived and the sheep got into full swing, it was clear he has been lucky enough to inherit my natural rhythm. That is to say, despite an extraordinary amount of concentration and effort, he was usually about half a second behind the others.
Then there was my daughters ‘Reception’ show. Even my cold cynical heart couldn’t help but smile as sixty 4/5 year olds gave it their all, in a wonderful performance at their first Christmas nativity. It was magical, if slightly nerve racking, to watch. My ‘little angel’ looked stunning in her costume, complete with wings and tinsel. Even when she caught her foot, tangled in her long dress, as she mounted the stage, she managed to gracefully recover the situation (just) – as any angel worth their harp would.
She’d been learning her words, all 5 of them, for weeks. We’d practiced them with a clear loud speaking voice… a lot. Of course when her line came, I almost missed it (keeping a small toddler entertained on your lap at these things can be challenging), but then she spoke… clearly and loudly! I may be bias, her stage debut as ‘Angel 2’ was nothing short of Oscar winning.
So there we have it. All done for another year. The teachers lay slumped in the staff room surrounded by empty chocolate wrappers, the parents are at home wondering what to do with the hand crafted costume, and the children… well they look as if they have run a marathon, such is the effort they have put into their day. Meanwhile, the song sheets may be discarded into the blue bin, but we’ll all be humming those damn tunes well into the New Year.
