"Poshest" roles in a typical nativity play

[SympatheticSwan]

Lighthearted obviously.

It's this time of the year again and, as a foreign parent, I am again amazed by the level of intrigue around the casting decisions for the school's nativity play.

AIBU to ask you to help me understand what is the "hierarchy" of roles in a typical nativity play? I deduced myself that Mary is the lead role (but it does not seem that Joseph commands the same level of respect for boys), and livestock ranks below all, but what about the rest? Shepherd? Three wise men? Townsfolk? Innkeeper? Talking penguins?

I'm not sure. I was however glad when my son got 'cast' (he's 3!) as a King. I was half expecting a sheep/cow/donkey.

If your child is relegated to making “Noises Offstage”, you know they’ve been a little horror all year.
My brother was once cast as a cat and had to miaow convincingly through a microphone while stood next to his teacher so she could keep an eagle eye on his antics!
She escorted him onstage at the end so he could get his applause, but she never left him for a moment

Goodness me what utter noneness people come up with on here sometimes . They are kids in a christmas play for heavens sake.

I think Angel Gabriel has to be up there with Mary! That's a pretty big role. When i was at school ( a long time ago) being a narrator was also a role with a lot of responsibility. ;)

Obviously for girls; Mary, Gabriel (if it's being played by a girl), angel, inkeepers wife (don't start on the name of this one!), Star, animals.

For boys; kings, Joseph, Herod, shepherds, Inn keeper, animals, stars

And narrator either first if you have all the lines, or somewhere above animals if you only have one line!

Of course I jest a bit - I have seen wonderful nativities with additional roles. I've also seen camels and donkeys be the star of the show - in fact one year it was called the donkeys story. And some kids just live being certain parts.

Just embrace it for what it is. A lovely tradition. It doesn't matter what your child plays just help them enjoy it. (And think a Mary and Joseph on the stage alone wouldn't make for a very interesting play).

In descending order it would be for girls, Mary, Angel, narrator, Innkeepers wife.
For boys Joseph, Innkeeper Herod. Kings, Shepherds, Pages.
Nowadays girls can also be cast as kings or shepherds and boys as the angel.

My daughter was once a human calculator.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.ladbible.com/news/weird-nativity-roles-could-predict-your-earning-future-20191111.amp.html

In my experience in the eyes of the children narrators are the converted role. Mary is often the one they want the least as it's boring and a lot of sitting around. The donkey / Camel or any funny part is often desirable as you get to entertain the audience, and often have funny lines.

No idea about what the parents would like, other than Mary being seen as the teacher's favourite, which is definitely not the case.

My kids school is no longer doing a nativity so have had to give up hopes of DS2 getting one of these roles. His brother was always narrator which ranks fairly low as just all sit in a line in the side wearing ‘normal’ clothes not costumes.

Not converted - I obviously meant coveted. We need an edit button for Christmas

@ChaosisntapitChaosisaladder19
Don't take too seriously, it is a lighthearted thread. But on a serious note, I am surprised how competitive some parents are when it comes to the casting. Parents WhatsApp groups are full of "oh not Mary AGAIN, when will my little genius find the time to learn the role - aren't there any other children?"

Mary and Gabriel were hotly contested at my school as they were solo singing parts, so it boiled down to 1) who could sing 'properly' 2) who went to mass most regularly. (This is a state primary BTW).

The top role for boys according to my son is Roman soldier! The outfit is the best you see and they possibly get a cardboard sword. He’s gutted not to be one, especially as the fabled “biggest boy” is one.

My son is a “child” which is basically a narrator. I was always a narrator!

My daughter was Mary. It appears to be something people remember all their life!

Narrator is usually pretty highly ranking - but there is a spectrum of narrators. From the sole narrator who gets to wear a sparkly waistcoat/dress to the ones who are in school uniform and 20 of them get 1 line each.
Neither of mine have ever had a role (makes me wonder why I’m PTA chair) but they never wanted one so it’s all good.

They all want to be the narrator in my DD’s class as well, future CEO’s for sure 😂.
DD has a role that comes with a husband who she constantly talks over, canny bit of casting from the teachers there

Never heard of a nativity play described this way.

Some kids desperately want a speaking part. Other kids find the idea of having to say the right lines in front of an audience really stressful. The main speaking parts, from memory, are the Angel Gabriel, Mary and the Inn Keeper. Being an animal is great if you want a fun costume and you don't want to say anything. Nativity plays are all about being inclusive. Some go off piste and make the nativity party a play within a play, so that there are more characters, such as a cook, children listening to a bedtime story, Santa etc.

My youngest was cast as the back end of a camel for his first nativity. The front end was a farter...🤮

I'd be disappointed if one of mine was cast as Mary- she never has any lines. If I'm forking out for a costume I want to see them on stage with a line. Our school tend to do weird and wonderful versions of the nativity. This year dd is Sue

Not Christmas play this one, but summer show, and my DD2 was the interval announcer. Had to say “refreshments are now available at the hatch” with a lovely wafty arm gesture towards said hatch!

It was probably the best received line in the play

My DC’s primary never did a nativity! Other types of little plays, yes, but not a nativity.

This has brought up memories of when my year 2 crush was given the choice to be Joseph or a King and he chose to be a king, I was Mary and most put out!

Back on topic, roles Mary, Joseph, Angel Gabriel, Kings (best costumes!), angels/shepherds/paiges, chorus/livestock. Narrators have the most important role but if your child prefers to act I think they would prefer to be in costume.

I wonder why there's such a fuss about being Mary. She usually doesn't have much if anything to say. She just gets to follow Joseph about.

I was pretty unimpressed to be cast as Joseph when I was a little girl at primary school 😂
I did have a lot of lines and a pretty long speech though so I think that's why I was picked because they trusted me to learn them.
It still felt weird though

Mary is not the lead role, The narrator is the lead role, the one with the most lines that need to be read.

I think the Kings usually seem to have the best fun and costumes.

Mary
Joseph
Angel Gabriel
Three Wise men
Innkeeper
Sheep etc

That's the hierarchy

Below that is all the nonsense roles they invent so that everyone can be involved