Ladies' Guild Christmas Party - December 2009
(Not necessarily written following the running order.)
Click here to see the photographs
Ladies of more mature years have abilities and skills earned in the school of life. These skills mean that the Ladies’ Guild Christmas Party is always a delightful experience. We met at seven, to have time to demolishing the delicious buffet supper. We were all pleased to welcome our special guests, Roger and Ros, Martin and Liz and Ray and Wendy.
This year, the tables were decorated with flaming red candles, crackers and sweets. As usual, we have the committee to thank for all the effort it had put into preparing and presenting the food. We are also privileged to be the audience that has the delight, for one night only, of pure entertainment by the Guild Committee who are proving to have a diverse range of dramatic talents.
The show began with five ladies, makeup and hair to be believed, singing their own version of All Things Bright and Beautiful. The ladies in question were looking for a man; one each I believe. They left us in suspense, telling us that they would finish the song later. We then saw a pair of much esteemed ladies of the congregation who, after polite debate, came to argument and then violence. Obviously Roger exerted more control over the congregation than one suspected! So, with laughing goodbyes to Mrs Hipshot and Mrs Grandeur, we went on to see Mother Goose, as it has never been seen before and may never be seen again.
The cast of Mother Goose, Kitty and Mary, two lovesick swains and a narrator, plus the essential goose, standing in a row, managed to provoke much laughter. The goose walk and the golden egg were memorable and the happy ending was of course obligatory, as in all pantomimes.
The keep-fit action song was very clever. It was rendered by ladies who reminded us of Venetians who had mislaid their gondolas, aided by Santa who had beard and hairy chest trouble. The audience were supposed to sing but we just laughed and admired the effort. The rendition of the Sailors Hornpipe to original actions was second to none for effort.
The long promised second half of All Things Bright and Beautiful brought a surprise. The poor souls had each found a man. They sang triumphantly:
All things bright and beautiful, We have found ourselves a man. Not quite what we wanted, We’ve done the best we can. (Is this the Bride’s lament?)
Each man had a verse sung about his qualities by the new owner. We were all amazed to find that Roger had recently come out of prison and was now back on his way to clink. I feel all the brave men who helped to set this scene deserve a medal for the creation of so much mirth. Ros laughing her head off at her husband’s plight enhanced the event. We finished the evening by singing a selection of Christmas Carols.