‘And we can make them white fluffy coats to put on, so they’ll look like sheep,’ Sylvie said.
Oh boy, really? Dressing up wasn’t my favourite thing, or George’s, but then it looked as if we had no choice. Snowball was the only one of us that even remotely resembled a sheep and that was only because she was white.
‘Doris will help with costumes, she’s always knitting or making things,’ Claire said, making a note.
I was far from convinced, but we would have to accept it for now if we wanted to be in the show. When I spoke to the others– none of whom were here – I’d see what they said. I mean, sheep may not be as cool as cats but we were bound to be able to do something with it. At least we would be doing it for a good cause. I was desperately trying to talk myself into it, but I wasn’t sure I was succeeding.
‘Anyway, we’ll work on the parts and the running list later but we need other things,’ Claire explained.
‘Like what? I’ve given you sponsorship,’ Jonathan said.
‘Yes, which is great because we can now afford to put the show on properly and also make sure we raise money,’ Claire replied, giving him a hug.
‘We are going to do online tickets, which are easy to set up and also a donation page, which we need to advertise on the posters, and on social media as well,’ Aleksy said. ‘I’ve written all the details down.’
‘Tommy’s doing social media,’ Connie said.
‘You better not muck it up,’ Aleksy warned.
‘As if,’ Tommy said. But we weren’t so sure.
‘As lovely as the posters the kids did for the auditions were, we need something a bit more professional for the actual show,’ Claire pointed out.
‘And my company logo needs to be on there – on everything, if they’re sponsoring it – as they do expect to get a bit of recognition,’ Jonathan pointed out. Now his company was sponsoring the show he was mentioning it at every turn. No modesty, Jonathan. And it had been my idea in the first place …
‘No problem,’ Matt said. ‘I can design the posters. We can have digital copies to put all over social media and physical copies we can put up wherever we can. Now, I did have one suggestion, can we put the show on for people who go to the shelter? So they can enjoy what really is their show, without buying a ticket?’
‘Oh Matt, that’s a great idea. Why don’t you make it the dress rehearsal? Also I volunteer to design the set. It’s kind of my job, after all,’ Polly added. She was an interior designer. ‘I’m thinking we have a sort of Christmas tree forest, with fake snow and stars on the walls, then for the Nativity we need to build some kind of stable, or shed thing, for that, and the final bit with Santa I thought we could do a living room, and have him putting presents round a big tree before the kids come in and find him and it’s a great moment before the final song?’
‘Isn’t three sets a bit ambitious?’ Marcus asked.
‘Well, I looked at the stage and there’s already a curtain, so as long as we have enough people to help shift them around and control the curtains, because it won’t be sophisticated like a proper theatre of course, then I don’t see why not?’ Polly said.
‘I think that sounds great,’ Sylvie said. ‘And we’ll help with everything.’
‘Ah, well, we wanted to talk about that. We kind of need you two to be Mary and Joseph, Mum, Marcus,’ Connie said.
‘What?’ Marcus looked horrified.
‘It’s because of Theo.’ Theo was sleeping in Harold’s arms, oblivious to the fact he was one of the stars of the show.
‘Yes, Mum, what if he starts crying in the show? We can’t control that, and if some strange man or woman picks him up, that could be a disaster.’
‘Imagine if it was the juggler, he’d probably drop him.’ Jonathan laughed, but Claire shot him one of her ‘looks’.
‘But, what if Mum is Mary and someone else is Joseph. I was going to volunteer to help Tomasz with sets.’ Marcus sounded panicked.
‘You can help me too,’ Tomasz said, his lips twitching. ‘You can do both.’
Marcus scowled at him.
‘Great idea,’ Jonathan added. ‘You’d make a great Joseph. What about costumes?’ Matt, Jonathan, and Tomasz could be so immature at times like this, as they all tried not to laugh.
‘We are going to do a modern twist on the costumes to make it more fun, no tea towels on anyone’s head … Mum’s going to be in charge because she knows about fashion,’ Connie said.
‘Well, I don’t know about that, but I’ll do my best,’ Sylvie said modestly.
‘I can sew,’ Franceska added. ‘So I’d be happy to help.’
‘Tomasz and Matt, you will be shepherds because, a bit like with Theo, the cats know you and we’re going to have quite a few shepherds in total. Polly, I know you’re doing sets but you can also be the innkeeper we thought – you know “there’s no room at the inn” – although I think it’ll be something more modern than an inn,’ Aleksy continued.
‘A Travelodge?’ Jonathan laughed.
I listened with my eyes widening. There was so much to be done for this show. I thought it would be as simple as a couple of songs and a bit of a play but it was getting very complex. Costumes, sets, running lists, it was all going to take a lot of time and effort, and I was incredibly proud to see how much my families were all banding together to do it. It was warming my little heart. And I was almost happy to be a sheep if it helped. Almost but not quite.
I was woken by George and as I blinked I saw that everyone had gone. I must have dropped off.
‘Oh, the meeting’s over?’ I said with a yawn.
‘Did you sleep through it?’
‘No, of course not. I listened to the most important parts.’ At least I hoped I had. ‘It just got very tiring with everyone chipping in ideas. Anyway, I do know what our part is going to be.’
‘Tell me, tell me, tell me!’ George sounded so young when he was excited.
‘Sheep.’ I didn’t quite know if I could look him in the eyes.
‘Sheep?’
‘I’m afraid so. In the Nativity there are going to be a few shepherds, and we are going to be their sheep, who go with them when they visit the baby Jesus.’
‘I’ve never understood why there weren’t any cats in the Nativity scene,’ George said. ‘Can’t we persuade them to let us be cats?’
‘How would that show your acting prowess?’ I teased.
‘Oh, yes, of course you’re right. But it’s not me I’m worried about. With my stage experience and natural talent I’ll easily be able to be a sheep but you, Snowball, and Hana might not find it quite so. I guess I’ll just have to help you all.’
I had no words. But it seemed that George had many as he started lecturing me about characterisation and how to make myself believable. How on earth I was going to be believable as a sheep? I couldn’t even make the right noise. And neither could George, to be honest, but I wasn’t going to be the one to tell him that. Neither of us had much of a ‘bleat’.
We spent the rest of the evening at home because it really was cold and miserable outside, and also we were both tired. George had to be the standin for Pickles (which he did not appreciate) when the children showed Claire and Jonathan how well their Rudolph song was going. Even though he’s clearly a brilliant actor – if he does say so himself – George sat there looking annoyed through the whole song.
Claire and Jonathan chatted through logistics– how much money they would spend and how much they hoped to raise, what the ticket price should be, and how they would advertise it beyond social media and putting a few posters up. Claire said she would contact the local paper and see if they would write a piece, Jonathan said he would ask someof the people who worked for him to buy tickets. And they also discussed having a gift donation bank at the show so people could bring a present for the homeless shelter people … There were a lot of good ideas going on and I could only feel proud and delighted. Not only because it was for such a good cause and would help so many people, but also because it was all my idea.