Andrew Oxspring: What Christmas Means To Me
Christmas musical for 4-7 and 7-11 yearsRunning time 45 minutes (KS1) or 60 minutes (KS2) approx.This entertaining new musical takes a witty yet thoughtful look at the characters and events that shape our experiences of the festive season. Laugh at the blind panic of last-minute shoppers, Christmas day early-risers eager to get their hands on what?s under the tree, Christmas-cracker addicts, and the ageing Rich Clifford's annual challenge for the Christmas number one! But we also consider how Christmas came to be, and learn that all the trappings of our modern celebrations mean very little, unless we are able to share this time of year with our nearest and dearest. Plot summaryThe show begins with a resounding, whole-cast sing-a-long of the opening number - 'What Does Christmas Mean To You?' after which we find ourselves in the familiar surroundings of a classroom! Although it's the last few days of the school term, and the children think they should be taking it easy, the teacher still wants her class to produce one more piece of writing, entitled 'What Christmas Means To Me'. With the children's discussion of their ideas providing the continuity, we become witness to some truly entertaining seasonal delights!We all know what it's like, trying to do some last minute Christmas shopping, and the characters in our first scene sum up the experience beautifully, providing us with lots to laugh at! (song - 'I'd Rather Stay At Home')What would Christmas be without a festive song from an ageing pop star? Join daytime talk-show host, June Chandler, as she interviews the legendary 'Sir' Rich Clifford, who at sixty years old can still make his fans go week at the knees! Then sit back in a comfy chair and enjoy his not-quite-energetic performance, accompanied by his famous backing singers, the Bellafonté Sisters. (song - 'The Christmas Number One')How many children can resist the urge to get up at 3 o'clock on Christmas morning to see what presents Santa has left under the tree? Certainly not the one in this scene, which isn't surprising when the present in question is a shiny new games console! Mum and Dad's numerous attempts throughout the day to drag their youngster away from the TV screen are futile! And what about poor Grandma and Grandpa, who just want to sit on the settee and watch the Queen? (song - 'X-Box, Playstation or Wii')Christmas crackers - don't you just love them? Well, nobody loves them quite as much as the children in the next scene. Even when their relentless pursuit of 'bangs', paper hats and corny jokes threaten to ruin Christmas dinner, they still can't help themselves! And who can blame them! (song - 'Let's Pull Another Cracker')Next we are reminded of the reason why we celebrate Christmas - the Nativity. A traditional tableau is presented to a short narration of the bible story, and a meaningful new song - 'A Night To Remember'So, with lots to think about, the class conclude that Christmas can mean different things to different people, and our hopes for the 'big day' may not necessarily be the same as everyone else's. However, it is unanimously agreed that what really makes Christmas special is what many of us take for granted - the chance to spend some precious time with the people we love. (song - 'Just Being Together') After all, where's the fun in pulling a cracker on your own?
