Dear Santa,
Sometimes, the clichés about “theatre types” are true. In our case, we are definitely one of those “all-in-this-together” groups that the media warned you about. This was particularly obvious tonight, when one of our chorus members stepped in to the considerable musical breach left by our temporarily-absent MD.
We would like to put forward this case to you and all relevant anthropomorphic personifications: Paul definitely deserves to be on your Nice List this year. With only a couple of rehearsals left until we put on our sparkly jumpers to kick off Longton’s Winter Wonderland (and then one more before we perform for the patrons of Chew’s Yard in Preston), every minute of ‘note-bashing’ (a highly technical term) counts.
In addition to the mammoth task of creating a giant set of helper tracks in a very short space of time, Paul led the rehearsal this week. After opening with “Ding Dong Merrily on High” we worked on – deep breath – “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, “Torches”, “Starry Night”, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree”, and “Text Me Merry Christmas” (this last one – originally recorded by Kristen Bell – really shows how the internet landscape has changed in just a few short years). Gradually, we all became much less tentative as notes finally clicked and lyrics untangled themselves.
When Katy made a surprise appearance for the last part of the rehearsal, we decided to show off our progress by repeating many of the above songs, plus “We Need a Little Christmas” and chorus staple “There Is A Santa Claus” from Elf: The Musical.
Make no mistake, Mr Claus: we would otherwise have lost a precious week of rehearsal, and there would have been panic at the chorus. Please find a way to get everything on Paul’s wish list onto the sleigh.
With love, mince pies, and carrots for the reindeer,
Everyone at KTB Music Theatre Chorus.
Written by Aeryn Isherwood
