A two thousand year old story brought to life …….. At the Sri Lanka NSW Catholic Association Christmas event – By Aubrey Joachim
“Once upon a time, in a small town called Nazareth…….
And so began the Bethlehem story narrated by the grandmother to her eagerly listening grandchildren spread out on the floor at her feet.
It was the annual Nativity Play enacted by some twenty children aged between four and twelve years of age – and a real life grandmother! The entire 30-minute play was a juxtaposition of a two-thousand-year-old story narrated in a current day setting on one and the same stage. The grandma opening the door to three loud knocks on her door, welcomes her three grandkids with big hugs and takes them into her drawing room to relate to them the Christmas story.
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As grandma relates the story of the birth of Jesus, the town of Nazareth is brought to life. Mary is visited by an angel to tell her that she is chosen by God to be the mother of His Son. Joseph the carpenter – soon to be foster father of Jesus – is in his workshop going about his daily tasks. Caesar Augustus decrees the first census of the world and Mary and Joseph go to Bethlehem to be registered. Mary goes into labor and the only shelter available for them is a stable. It is in this humble setting that Jesus the Saviour is born. Shepherds watch their flock on the surrounding mountains and three Kings from the Orient were guided by a star to pay homage to the God-child.
The audience of nearly 250 people was spellbound as the actors played their roles and the story unfolded to haunting background music, the backdrop of the Bethlehem sky and a very real stable. The realism was complete with the bleating of sheep and mooing of cattle.
The entire play was written, produced and directed by the young adults of the SLNSWCA – lead by Maliza De Silva – and are now fast turning into ‘professionals’ having notched their third production. They were given scriptural guidance by the Catholic Chaplain of the SLNSWCA Fr. Treesen Silva. The concept of relating the 2,000-year-old Biblical story as flashback scenes was a new and innovative idea to weave the narration into the storyline. It was magic! It worked perfectly. Managing the two sets of props was extremely well choreographed by the backstage crew. The music score incorporated both Sinhalese and English hymns and carols which brought the scenes to life thanks to the technological expertise of Malith De Silva. The simple costumes added to the realism of the story being told without glam, glitter and dance.
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The number of kids eagerly participating in this annual event is growing year by year as parents are going out of their way to bring their children for practices in the weeks leading up to the event. Soon there may need to be auditions to get into the cast!
The Christmas event of the Sri Lanka New South Wales Catholic Association (SLNSWCA) is more than just a festive party. It is put together entirely by the Sri Lankan Catholic Community in NSW and the majority of the audience is Catholic to whom the entire pageant is deeply meaningful. It brings together the Spiritual element as well. The evening commences with Holy Mass in Church and then the congregation goes in procession to the hall where the Nativity Play is performed. This year – as in the past – a number of choirs sang traditional carols as well as music of festive cheer. The well trained SLNSWCA choir performed their rendition of the traditional carols “O Holy Night” and “Do you Hear what I hear” to the rapturous applause of the audience. A special guest appearance by the Tongan Choir of the Guildford Parish was also well received.
In keeping with the spirit of the season no Christmas event is complete without the appearance of Santa and the kids were not disappointed as the man in red arrived at the hall which was tastefully decorated in the colours of Christmas and to the strains of Jingle Bells.
The festive cheer was complete with a sumptuous buffet which included traditional Christmas ham. The main meal was preceded by entre’s served during the performances. The Sri Lankan party spirit was kept alive with a session of baila to wrap up the evening.
The events portrayed may be over 2,000 years old but the spirit of the Christmas story continues to live on and that is what the young cast of ‘Once upon a time in Bethlehem’ brought out so vividly last Sunday.
Enjoy the pictures of the event below. The video of the event will be available shortly. Do not miss it.
Those interested in finding out more about the SLNSWCA can visit the following links:
Website: www.slnswcath.com
Fb page: https://m.facebook.com/SLNSWCA/
The SLNSWCA wishes all its well-wishers across the globe a Holy and Blessed Christmas.
The author is the Secretary of the Sri Lanka New South Wales Catholic Association and is based in Sydney, Australia.
