EnglishLady
Veteran Expediter
A Christmas Story "THE NATIVITY PLAY."
Having been born on the feast day of Our Lady, and being baptised Mary Teresa Bernadette, I always felt that I was more than qualified to play the Virgin Mary in the School's Nativity Play.
But every year it was the same thing, some sweet little dark haired girl from the class was always chosen, which I felt was very unfair, A) because their real name was never Mary, and B) why did they never choose a blond?
But every year after living in hope, and “Behaving” for a few weeks, I still ended up playing a lamb, donkey, cow, or a Star….but not even the Bethlehem one!
But this particular year tragedy really struck, when I was given the only remaining job left, which was as prompt and understudy.
Mum had always said that “God is Good” so as the nativity play approached I prayed to God that someone would fall ill (Please remember I was only a little girl at the time!).
The final rehearsal was in the morning, and the “real thing” took place in the afternoon of the last day of School, before breaking up for Christmas.
Well the rehearsal was a disaster, on my part……because no one forgot their lines, and everyone was disgustingly healthy, I was gutted. But as I mentioned “God is Good!!!!” and an hour before we were due to start, Sister Monica came running back stage in a panic - “The innkeeper has diarrhoea! Who knows the part?” -“THANK YOU GOD!” - My hand shot up.
“Are you sure?” asked Sister Monica “Yes Sister” I replied, as I thought, “How hard can it be!”
Once Bishop Billington and all the Nuns and Guests were seated we began, it was all very exciting and I remember wishing that Mum and Dad could have been there to watch me. After what seemed like ages I started to think how bored everyone must be getting, watching the same “Play” every year, but then I had an idea!
ACT 3
Mary, Joseph and the Donkey arrive at the inn. Joseph knocks on the inn door; door is opened by innkeeper (ME!);“Good evening innkeeper, this is my wife Mary and she is heavy with child. Have you any room at the inn?”
Innkeeper (ME!) replies;
“You are so lucky; I have just had a cancellation, come in!”Well at this “Joseph” was taken aback, but as she was a clever clogs, she also ad libbed;
Joseph;
“That is very kind of you, but as we love our Donkey so much and do not like to leave him on his own, we thought we could stay in your stable”
Innkeeper (ME!) replies;
“Oh do not worry about that, this is a pet friendly inn, he can stop in your room”
At this point, Mary, Joseph and the Donkey were forced to come through the “Cardboard Door” into the inn.
A deadly hush descended in the assembly hall, and it was only then I realised that I had just “killed” the end of the play. I could see a couple of Nuns racing towards the stage, so I flung open the “Cardboard Door” of the inn and yelled;
“FIRE!” “FIRE!” “Everyone out, the chip pan's on fire, everyone get to the stable.”
At this point, Mary, Joseph and the Donkey ran to the stable.
I ran the other way, before the Nuns could catch me, and I hid in the toilets until it was home time. So, I never got to see the end of the Nativity Play, that year, and the following year's Nativity Play went ahead in my absence, as I was not even allowed into the assembly hall!
Nuns have long memories!!!!!!!!!
Christmas-Tales
Having been born on the feast day of Our Lady, and being baptised Mary Teresa Bernadette, I always felt that I was more than qualified to play the Virgin Mary in the School's Nativity Play.
But every year it was the same thing, some sweet little dark haired girl from the class was always chosen, which I felt was very unfair, A) because their real name was never Mary, and B) why did they never choose a blond?
But every year after living in hope, and “Behaving” for a few weeks, I still ended up playing a lamb, donkey, cow, or a Star….but not even the Bethlehem one!
But this particular year tragedy really struck, when I was given the only remaining job left, which was as prompt and understudy.
Mum had always said that “God is Good” so as the nativity play approached I prayed to God that someone would fall ill (Please remember I was only a little girl at the time!).
The final rehearsal was in the morning, and the “real thing” took place in the afternoon of the last day of School, before breaking up for Christmas.
Well the rehearsal was a disaster, on my part……because no one forgot their lines, and everyone was disgustingly healthy, I was gutted. But as I mentioned “God is Good!!!!” and an hour before we were due to start, Sister Monica came running back stage in a panic - “The innkeeper has diarrhoea! Who knows the part?” -“THANK YOU GOD!” - My hand shot up.
“Are you sure?” asked Sister Monica “Yes Sister” I replied, as I thought, “How hard can it be!”
Once Bishop Billington and all the Nuns and Guests were seated we began, it was all very exciting and I remember wishing that Mum and Dad could have been there to watch me. After what seemed like ages I started to think how bored everyone must be getting, watching the same “Play” every year, but then I had an idea!
ACT 3
Mary, Joseph and the Donkey arrive at the inn. Joseph knocks on the inn door; door is opened by innkeeper (ME!);“Good evening innkeeper, this is my wife Mary and she is heavy with child. Have you any room at the inn?”
Innkeeper (ME!) replies;
“You are so lucky; I have just had a cancellation, come in!”Well at this “Joseph” was taken aback, but as she was a clever clogs, she also ad libbed;
Joseph;
“That is very kind of you, but as we love our Donkey so much and do not like to leave him on his own, we thought we could stay in your stable”
Innkeeper (ME!) replies;
“Oh do not worry about that, this is a pet friendly inn, he can stop in your room”
At this point, Mary, Joseph and the Donkey were forced to come through the “Cardboard Door” into the inn.
A deadly hush descended in the assembly hall, and it was only then I realised that I had just “killed” the end of the play. I could see a couple of Nuns racing towards the stage, so I flung open the “Cardboard Door” of the inn and yelled;
“FIRE!” “FIRE!” “Everyone out, the chip pan's on fire, everyone get to the stable.”
At this point, Mary, Joseph and the Donkey ran to the stable.
I ran the other way, before the Nuns could catch me, and I hid in the toilets until it was home time. So, I never got to see the end of the Nativity Play, that year, and the following year's Nativity Play went ahead in my absence, as I was not even allowed into the assembly hall!
Nuns have long memories!!!!!!!!!
Christmas-Tales