‘Once Upon a Christmas’ at St. Bridget’s Convent

“I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.” 

~Charles Dickens~

In an attempt to bring back this old and true spirit of Christmas, The Drama Society of St. Bridget’s Convent is all set to host ‘Once upon a Christmas”- a theatrical ensemble which will tug at your heart strings, painting in prose and drama what the season is all about.

Three plays will be performed beginning with Christmas Oranges- a set of orphans at Roche Manor and their only gift for the year: an orange, a little girl and a worried mother with their faith to God tested. The timeless tale of Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’ will be showcased on two days by a cast ranging from ages 12 to 19. An experience for the whole family, the play should not be missed as the students will show off their talents by way of song, dance and drama.

Synopsis of the plays:

Christmas Oranges

Its Christmas time, at Roche Manor, and the orphans living there, eagerly await the one and only gift they get every year – An Orange. These children tirelessly toil every day, doing laundry and keeping the orphanage in order, under their terrifying wardens, Ms. Lucy and Ms. Sue.

John, the eldest, is the ‘big brother’, and peace-maker among them, along with Sally. Most of these children have been living here for so long, that they hardly know anything better than this life, and the orange is a symbol of their hope, that they one day might leave this dreadful place.

Misfortune befalls one of them, and his hopes and dreams are shattered, but the other orphans help him realize the true meaning of Christmas, through one act of sheer kindness.

   Letters to God

The story of what happens when one girl’s walk of faith crosses paths with one man’s search for meaning – the resulting transformational journey touches the lives of everyone around them.

Maddie Morgan is an extraordinary eight-year-old girl. Surrounded by a loving family, and armed with the courage of her faith, she faces her daily battle against cancer with complete trust in God. To Maddie, God is a friend, a teacher and the ultimate pen pal – Maddie’s prayers take the form of letters, which she composes and mails on a daily basis. The letters find their way into the hands of Matt Piers, a beleaguered postman standing at a crossroads in his life. At first, he is confused and conflicted over what to do with the letters, but the decision he ultimately makes becomes a testament to the quiet power of one girl’s shining spirit and unshakable faith, Along the way, Maddie help her mother restore her faith in God’s power and helps her family find their way back to God.

 A Christmas carol

The third and final play-let to be performed is the timeless classic, “A Christmas Carol”, by Charles Dickens – with a twist.

Elga, otherwise known as Scrooge, is known to be a miser. In her opinion however, she is highly principled, believes that one should earn money through hard work and refrain from mindlessly spending it on meaningless festivities. One day however, her mother’s spirit pays her a little visit, informing her that she will be visited by three other spirits. The story revolves around these three spirits who change Scrooge’s outlook on Christmas and in turn – life as a whole.

“Once upon a Christmas” will be presented at the St. Bridget’s Convent auditorium at 6.30 pm on 19 and 20 December. Tickets and box plan are available at the School premises and are priced for Rs. 1000, Rs. 500, Rs. 400 and Rs. 300 (balcony). For more details please contact 071 4233677