'Why isn't my child Mary' syndrome

[Pud2]

AIBU to get irritated by parents who complain to the school when their DC doesn't get a good part in a production?

Sadly it does happen. I've been told how many lines their child has against the number of lines other children have and then complaining it's not fair. Too much time on their hands!

This thread is 5 months old! However I suppose it is more relevant now than July!
Lots of children don't want a main part. Since my preferred position was the back row of the chorus it was hardly surprising that my children didn't want to be centre stage either. My neighbour's child didn't even want that-he used to help with the lights.
It didn't bother me-I enjoy seeing all the children perform. I get the impression that some parents couldn't care less about the over all production, they are only interested in their own child!

I've been lucky, dd has been mary twice and an angel every other year, this year she is angel gabriel (although she says gabrielle as she is a girl), but it doesn't mean she gets to say the most, those parts always go to children of the governors and pta

I'm on the PTA and my child has no speaking part. Why don't those of you complaining about the PTA give up your own free time and join the PTA for all of these unfair advantages you think PTA members get? Or you could just let others do it and talk badly about them.

Comparing how many line?! That is plain ridiculous.

The PTA is the bunkum that always comes up!! I have always been on the PTA and my children have never had a central part. The PTA is always, in any school, crying out for members-if you want your child to have a main part and you think it helps then get on the committee (you will be disappointed when you see it makes no difference)

I can't wait for DD's nativity next week. She was apparently Mary but choose to swap with another child who wanted to be Mary because she preferred to be a sheep. I shall be the very proud mummy of the kindest sheep on that stage.

i have also always been on the pta and have served as a governor. obv did both those so dd could get a main part. we have now finished with primary school and every fucking year they said, i'm sure she always gets a main part so this year she can be a sodding donkey.

Justine wrote the article. I suppose if anyone has the right to lift quotes from here it's her.

This hackneyed old cliche of PTA committee's children getting the main parts annoys me intensely. It's complete bollocks, yet it's wheeled out every year.

Well perhaps if every child got a chance to shine and the ksame kids were not always given opportunities while others were overlooked then maybe parents would not get pisssed

Not all children want chance to shine- I certainly didn't. I really couldn't care what my mother felt- if it bothered her she could go into amateur dramatics to shine herself!
I liked taking part- but hidden in the chorus.

I was Mary one year - dark hair, dark eyes.
DD was Mary one year too - again, dark hair, dark eyes.

IME Mary was always dark haired. The angels were always blonde.

My Mary had a grand total of one line.
At least DD had a fe more lines and a solo song.

The school I work at are having a nativity - but the main part is def not Mary, its an angel.

4yo in a school year of 90 children is Narrator 15. I'm happy with that!

Our school (C of E) is quite a small village school - only around 100 pupils - and so they do one big play for the whole school. It's always a modern interpretation/twist of the Nativity story. Generally, the reception class are all animals, who get dragged on for the manger scene and have one or two special songs, but no speaking parts, that just their class sings. The Y1/Y2 class are usually shepherds or villagers, again just come on for certain scenes to sing specific songs but no-one has any lines either.
The next class up has special songs and a few lines between them but the major speaking parts are usually given to the oldest class and so far I haven't noticed the same kids being given the 'best' parts.

I personally was always the narrator, which I hated, but apparently I spoke well and projected my voice properly

I was a villager, my son is a villager, I await being the proud grandparent of a villager

for our end of y2 play we hold auditions. we all get together in the hall - all y2 teachers and TAs in the hall, with all 90 children. Those who want a speaking part get lines to practise for 10 minutes. Then the stand up (in groups of about 8-10) in front of the staff and other children and say their learned lines. Staff will then write comments and give positive words to the child (but never giving anything away re parts) and on it goes. If it is a play with solo singing, or small group singing, we audition singing parts too. Its all done in good nature and in a fun way and so far every year it has been a good afternoon.

Staff then get together and work out who should have what part...we never pay any attention to parents and their roles within school (or not) and it is always about the child - how we think they will cope, how confident they might be, if we think they can learn the lines or sing a song, etc. Everyone gets to do something - but we do take into account any who really don't want to talk on their own or dance, etc.

Once parts are out we won't change them - regardless of parents, etc.

We try and make auditions a fun day and then we make sure everyone in the year gets a proper named part and one where everyone gets a chance on the stage, plus a role that matches their preferences and their capabilities on stage.

Another thing we do is to split main roles - so half way through the show, the main cast change people. Works really well.

Having read these threads for years on Mumsnet I now smile sweetly and encouragingly about whatever part DS is given. However ex hasn't read these threads and boy this year did he make a few clangers :) Moaned to teaching staff about DS being upset about not having any speaking lines! I think I might have seen a voodoo doll in the classroom later that day!!

I am a governor. My DD is a non speaking member of the choir of angels.

Track record with other DC is one highly reluctant snowflake, one sheep and a rather scene stealing cameo as the donkey :)

My dd is a stable girl. The only one apparently. She has a few lines, and got an award yesterday for remembering them. She's really excited about it all.

Am I allowed to be proud on MN?

Longdistance you should be proud, that sounds great! Good for your DD.

No, however at DC's school, it is always the same children in the leading roles - very frustrating!

I'm PTA and a Governor, DS has one line, his first in 4 years, and DD is in the choir.

Once again the anti PTA brigade are out in force.

As previously said by posters more eloquent then myself - if you are that bothered by what supposedly goes on at PTA, go along to a meeting and see
for yourself rather than make assumptions.

I'm a governor and ds often gets a decent part. It's not because I'm a governor though. He has a loud clear voice, can be relied upon to learn lines and is totally unfazed by the occasion.

My mum's a retired teacher and always said it was a great opportunity to see different children shine. But she also said you need a few bankers you can rely on. At the end of the day, you're also trying to entertain your audience.

My other two generally get much smaller parts btw. I get really pissed off with the whole mn only the governors'/PTA's kids get main parts bollocks.

Probably it is the same children who can be relied upon to do it properly, be word perfect on the night, follow a cue, have a very clear voice that projects to the back of the hall and not be self conscious. That rules out a lot of children.

You also get some children who think they will be amusing and play what they think is funny on the night-you don't want them in a main part.