On Tuesday the 10th of December, Years 3 to 6 gave a wonderful performance of "A Victorian Christmas Party",  thoroughly enjoyed by the parents.  Thanks must go to everyone, parents included, in making this a memorable event, and it was a joy to see the fun the children had in performing.  Here is a brief synopsis of the performance written by one of its stars, Helen Dickinson, Year 6.

A Victorian Christmas Party

The play is set in the Victorian times, during the Crimean War. It is Christmas time. Tom the lamplighter (Calvin) appears on the street. He sings a song about himself and his job as Tom the Lamplighter. When the music finishes, Tom sees Orph the chimney sweep (Helen) curled up beneath the lamp. After a brief conversation, Tom hears some carol singers coming and he exits cheerfully. Orph listens to the music and a housekeeper,  Mrs Rosey Parker (Adelaide), thanks the carol singers for their singing.

Next we meet the Armstrong family. Mrs Amelia Armstrong (Lauren) says goodnight to her children — Henry, Alice, Victoria, Edward, Marina and Bartholomew, with Nanny (Sophie) watching. The father of the family has been fighting in the war but is expected home for Christmas.

Back on the street, Orph is by himself and is quite sad, as revealed in “Here Am I Alone”. Orph settles down for the night. Major Clive Armstrong (Robin) walks into the street, singing "I’m Far From the Fight". At the end of the song he reflects upon the war and there is a fighting scene going on near him. The major then notices  Orph. He talks to him and finds out he is an orphan. He feels sorry for him and gives him a proper name, Waldorf, as told in the song "Waldorf — a Well-Off Toff"! The Major invites Waldorf back to his house for Christmas.

Then we take a look at the Armstrong’s kitchen where the servants are busy preparing for Christmas. The servants are introduced to us in the song "The Busy Servants". They depart to do their duties and Waldorf receives a bath from Nanny. Mrs Fry the cook (Cara) is very frustrated. She is making a Christmas pudding and the Odd Job Men are sent in to mend a wobbly table leg. The children enter and they stir the pudding. Waldorf stirs it too.

Dinnertime arrives and the pudding is eaten by the family. Their appreciation is heard in “The Christmas Pudding”. There follows a quiet afternoon, but an obvious conspiracy is going on! When Waldorf enters the room, the Major shows him the Christmas tree, which has a letter to Waldorf attached. The letter is from the Armstrongs and they promise to send him to learn the 3 R’s. Waldorf is invited to live with the Armstrongs. He accepts. The children then perform a nativity for the house staff and their parents to the song “Christ is Born on Christmas Day”. The dancing then starts, led by the Major and Mrs Amelia. The play ends with a song “A Victorian Christmas Party”.