The Flint Street Nativity
Waddington Dramatic Society
Waddington Village Hall
24 - 26 November 2022
There is nothing as funny as children. There, I have said it. As a former primary school teacher I have witnessed many Nativity plays which are quite unexpected and feature characters as diverse as Jesus at one end of the scale and Buzz Lightyeat at the other. I have witnessed the reluctant children who really don't want to do the show, the children who just want to wave to their parents and the budding divas who want to control everything that happens on stage. Tim Firth's comedy manages to capture all of these and more. He does so, by turning the tables and making adults perform as the children and that makes it even funnier. Director Julie Addison takes a cast of performers used to giving it their all in local drama and turns them into an unholy choir of less than angelic angels and shepherds.
With technical support from David Ridout, who is also the producer, and Kevin Gilligham, Musical Director Rob Steadman-Hill, costumes by Jane Kelly and further crew support from Catherine Steadman-Hill and Shelagh Gillingham, the production looks marvellous. The set by Director Julie Addison is amazing, and gave me "post-traumatic flashbacks" to my days as a teacher, whose TA used Sparklebox to create much of the classroom signage. It looks scarily accurate. Given such a small stage, the team has worked wonders to make the play look as convincing and as accurate as possible. It perfectly evokes memories of primary school.
The Flint Street Nativity, by definition as such nativity plays do, requires a fairly large cast and the Waddington Dramatic Society has assembled a wide array of talent which brings life and laughter to the antics on stage. The evening kicks off wih classroom assistant Miss Holly Berry, played convincingly by Katie Adcock setting up the proceedings with just the right mix of sweetness for the parents, and menace for the children in her care. Then we meet the little darlings themselves and we are treated to a real cornucopia of characters.
Our earnest Narrator, intent on playing his part to perfection and determined to get every line right in case his Dad can see his performance is played by Neil Markland, in a lovely performance and there is a really touching footnote in the penultimate scene of the play which I won't give away and let people see for themselves.
There is the menacing presence of Bradley, whose parents run the local pub (so naturally he plays an inn-keeper) and is fascinated by picking things up that are best left unpicked. Tony Graves' performance is sullen, menacing, misunderstood and above all commanding of our attention. I would have been inclined to hand over my pocket money if he had been at my school.
Gary Wright's Ryan as Joseph/Herod is an interesting character too. He is obsessed with A Question of Sport and in particular Ali McQuoist's performance and delivers a cracking impression. He is almost bullied by those around him, as he reluctantly does as he is told until selective mutism seems to halt his portrayal of Joseph and he clams up at just the wrong moment.
Mike Gallimore gives us a sensitive portrayal of Adrian who would not appreciate me using the word "sensitive" as he has a lisp which he is mocked for by those who pretend not to be able to understand him. He is desperately anxious about having to deliver the "Frankinthenth to Jethuth" and resolves his problem in the most creative of ways.
Dale Storey plays Marcus, a little boy with a NASA fixation called upon to play The Star, desperate to correct misconceptions about what a star actually is and should really look like. He is ultra-keen to impress his "Uncle" that works at NASA and manages to turn his role into a lecture that would not have been out of place on The Sky At Night.
Special unit pupil Brendan spends the duration of the play with a cardboard donkey head on, but gets many of the best lines despite that fact. Andy Brown gives a great performance under the humungous ass's head. His little accident during the Nativity comes over really well, as does Brendan's caring nature when seeking to help the lisping Adrian conquer his fears. But he has to go some to conquer my favourite line "Look! There's my social worker!"
Director Julie Addison stepped in at a late stage to take on the role of Jenny Bennett, the try-hard who is cast as Mary and bosses Ryan about, as Joseph. Mary is a thankless role in the Nativity and is usually given to the "nice" quiet and pretty girl who remains inoffensive and a non-controversial choice for the role. Julie Addison conveys all of these qualities well and suggests that she may well be teacher's pet.
Her principal rival though is the venomous Ashley who has been given the role of the Angel Gabriel. Ashley feels cheated and considers herself to be something of a Queen Bee in Mrs Horrocks' class. She has her own Mary costume and a picture pefect Baby Jesus doll that she believes should play the role, and not the wild-haired, over-sized Troll that Jenny Bennett is using. This monstrous minor is played superbly by Emma Wighton, who relishes the wicked and duplicitous side she is able to show. The duet between Ashley and Jenny to the tune of Away in a Manger was a really challenging song but so well delivered and a fabulous treat for the audience. I Want To Kill Mary seems a far more appropriate lyric for her to sing.
Dee Horne's hilarious take on the Wise men (she managed to play two roles!) was terrific and her comic timing matches her sesitivity in playing the role of Jess, who really just wants to be accepted by and friends with everyone, apart from Adrian who she foists the gift of Frankincense upon unconcerned that he may have difficulty even saying the word.
Joan King gives a lovely, earthy performance as a Shepherd / Zoe with real-world experience of the birthing process on a farm that is a little too grapphic and knowing! She believes in calling a spade a spade and gives Bradley what for when the need arises.
Lastly we have the "other" Angel / Kimberly played by Maria Wagstaff. She gives a really sympathetic portrayal of a good girl swept up in the moment by those around her and perhaps allowing herself to be manipulated by everyone for their own ends, even her own socially climbing mother. You cannot help but feel for Kimberly as the play progresses.
Within this play, everyone understands their brief and manages to bring a joyous interpretation to the stage. The play works best when the actors are allowed to play the children performing the Nativity with aplomb and a wonderous care-free disregard for convention. I have never really enjoyed the latter scenes in the play when we meet the parents of the children. I would happily swap out that scene for more chaos and madness but I suppose it is there for a reason. Nevertheless, Waddington Drama Society really up their game with this production and deliver a wonderful, comic show that audiences will love and is perfect as we approach this year's festive season.
The play opens on Thursday 24 Novemeber and runs until Saturday 26 November from 7:30pm and tickets are still available.
Andy Evans 21 November 2022
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