Everyone’s relationship with Christmas seems to be complicated mix of expectations and emotions. Personally, I wasn’t raised in any religion, so its meaning has always been about the gathering of family and the giving of gifts. But of course it runs deeper than that with our rich familial connections with parents, children, spouses, grandchildren, ex-spouses and all manner of friends and relatives and our unique warm (and yummy) traditions that have woven their way though through our lives. I love the Christmas holiday. I love that the western world seems to stop for a week and hunker down together and relax. I love sleuthing gifts that I know will bring joy to my loved ones and, okay, mostly I love the twinkly lights! Such a simpleton!
My personal relationship with the Christmas Story is as a colourful fable, but of course, for much of the world it is deeply rooted in their religious faith. So when I considered joining two exceptional musicians (Russ Rosen and Brit Graham Ord) and another Brit–– the wonderful storyteller Justyn Rees, in their seventh year presenting “Christmas Tales” in churches and venues throughout B.C., I was taking my own little leap of faith that it would be a good experience for this heathen. And I’m so glad I did. Justyn has created a very funny contemporary take on the Christmas Story, which is woven with both original songs and traditional carols. Though the show is aimed at adults with its humour, it is certainly entertaining for children as well.
I couldn’t help but want to bring it to Bowen so we will be performing Christmas Tales at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 21 at Tir-na-nOg Theatre. Tickets are $22 and available at Phoenix Books and The Hearth as well as on line at BigTreeShows.eventbrite.com.
