[stylist] another assignment submission

[Donna Hill]

Hi Eve,
Well done! Was this all from your imagination, or had you witnessed this
performance? Either way, it held my interest and I like the message from the
Santa  on stage. I also like your reference to the parents starting their
camels of choice and that you included the scent of cigarette smoke which
came in with the audience even though they didn't smoke in the theater.
Donna

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Eve Sanchez
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 4:59 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: [stylist] another assignment submission

Here I go again. You all got me in the Christmas mind set now and I am not
getting my needed work done. Hahaha   Eve



Pageantry

by Eve Sanchez


Filled beyond capacity, the auditorium lacked even standing room as the
principal tried in vain to clear a pathway through the aisle. The buzz of
the fluorescent lights could only be heard by the most sensitive ear over
the din which was more akin to the sound of stampeding wild horses echoing
off of the canyon walls than to a murmur. Stage right of the pit, the old
out-of-tune piano's keys were struck by a stray eight year old while the
clang of metal legs on linoleum signaled the addition of folding chairs in
the back of the large room.

The wall of windows facing the grassy quad were covered in tempera paints
of green, red, and white with depictions of Santa Claus, snowmen, and
boughs of holly. In the left corner of the stage stood a Christmas tree
with nylon needles on metal branches. It was decorated with thread covered
Styrofoam balls and a single strand of colored light bulbs. Faded red
brocade, heavy with a coating of dust hung across the stage. Parting ever
so slightly in the middle, an overly made-up face peaked out at the crowd.
Feedback squelching caused a moment of silence. Commotion was soon resumed
as those in the aisles attempted to find empty seats and finally settled on
the floor.

A proper silence came only when all of the lights, save for those in the
back of the room where refreshments were being sold, went out putting the
auditorium in near total darkness emphasizing the glimmer of the tree and
four neon green 'EXIT' signs. Slowly a single beam spotlighted on center
stage came up. At the same time the heavy curtains parted causing clouds of
dust to dance in the light's path. A lone figure stood with head down,
waiting, waiting, waiting.

Barely audible the girl started singing, "Silent night." Increasing in
volume as she raised her head, "Holy night." She continued with the
confidence that comes with being a fifteen year old that believes she can
do no wrong and has not yet learned that the world does not revolve around
her, her voice strengthened, "All is calm, all is bright." With fluctuating
notes she sang three verses of the classic returning to a near whisper with
"Sleep in heavenly peace." She bowed her head as the spotlight was lost..

A bright yellow spotlight was focused on a cardboard star hanging above the
stage while below was lit with blue light. Three wise men dressed in robes
of purple with black and gray beards crossed the stage followed by a
shepherd pulling a sheep on wheels. A large camel ran on stage, separating
in front of the hump to briefly show arms reaching for its front half
before rejoining. A twitter of laughter came from the audience, but died
down as an unseen narrator spoke over the loud speaker with a voice that
crackled, partly do to the out of date AV equipment and partly due to
impending puberty.

The story of the first Christmas was told while the players circled around
the stage pointing up to the star whenever they were faced away from it.
Finally, in a dark corner of the stage, under the hanging star, a two-sided
manger appeared as a white light hit it from above. A plywood donkey stood
next to a boy in ragged robes with a short gray beard hanging from hooks on
his glasses while a pretty girl knelt beside a cradle filled with straw and
a plastic baby.

As the narrator was coming to the end of his story another figure came onto
the stage. A heavy set boy dressed in red and white robes with a long white
beard walked straight to the baby in the straw and knelt, bowing his head.
The heavy curtains closed. Sounds resembling that of mice scampering back
and forth in the walls while trying to sleep were heard behind the drapes
on the darkened stage. Again the curtains parted, this time to reveal three
youth dressed in green tights with heavy grease paint covering their pimply
faces. As the delayed spotlight hit them they started bobbing back and
forth causing the jingle bells atop their hats to ring while they sang
"Here Comes Santa Claus".

As the trio finished singing and their light went out they noisily ran off
stage amidst giggles and exaggerated leaps in the air. More laughter came
from the audience. A baby cried. The over packed auditorium started to
smell of sweat mixed with the already present scent of tobacco that
accompanied many as they first came. The whole stage was engulfed in white
light showing a Santa figure stuffed with pillows sitting on a dusty
recliner while a line of teens dressed as small children crawled on their
hidden knees behind a facade of piled snow. Two girls dressed in their
grandmothers' fashion with their hair piled high and heavy rouge were
standing to the side of the line. With exaggerated gestures the girl
holding a doll as if it were her newborn baby shouted, "I don't know what
the point is. Christmas has become so commercial. Nobody hardly believes in
Santa Claus anymore."

The seated Santa stood and raising his arms to show sweat stains on the old
suit he shouted so that those in the back of the room could hear as well as
those sitting up front. "Christmas is not about me. That belief is what has
helped Christmas to become commercialized. I am but a servant of the true
King whose birth we celebrate with Christmas. I was there when the Christ
child was born and when he was presented with gifts from the kings of
Earth. My spirit continues so that I may pass on gifts in his name to the
children of Earth so that they may remember and honor him. I am not
Christmas. I do only what you should all do; give unto one another."

The stage went dark and the curtains closed. They quickly opened again
amidst roiling dust revealing all of the players lined up arm in arm,
including the two halves of the camel, singing "Joy to the world." The
elves came to the edge of the stage trying to prompt audience
participation. "The Lord has come." A few voices rang out and then joined
by many, "Let Earth receive its King." Soon the entire auditorium was
singing the carol. As the first song ended they moved directly into "Have a
Holly Jolly Christmas." As this song finished sleigh bells were heard
coming from the back room where the forgotten cookies and cocoa were not
sold.

A deep "Ho Ho Ho." was shouted and people turned to see a proper Santa
Claus emerge from the kitchen to start working his way through the crowd.
He made his way up to the stage where he continued to laugh, "Ho Ho Ho."
This Santa was a professional, looking realistic in his velvet suit and
natural beard. Positioning himself in front of the stage he swung a green
bag from his shoulder and started passing out candy canes to the screaming
children that ran through the crowd to greet him. Adults started shuffling
outside to light up there camels of choice. Parents of the players made
their way to the stage to bid 'jobs well done' to their thespian children.

Above all of the commotion could still be heard the continued "HO HO HO.
Merry Christmas."




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