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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I know I am but BLOODY SCHOOL PLAYS!

85 replies

smartiejacktheripper · 13/10/2008 19:24

Ok ok I know what you are all going to say especially the teachers amongst you.

My DD (aged 10 and not a PFB)) auditioned for a part in her school play (Dick Whittington). She practised the audition piece for ages and learned it off by heart. I know she's my DD but she was really good (I do actually know what I am talking about as I have been involved in the production of many school plays over the last 20 years.)

All her teachers told her she was really good. Some of the mum helpers have told me she was fantastic. The other children who auditioned did not learn the part but read it off the script.

Her teacher told me at a parent teacher meeting today(and I quote) "she was so good... one of the best."

DD found out today that she has been given the part of... her teacher. ( don't remember a teacher in the story of Dick Whittington.)

Here's the best bit

Why was she given that part? Because her glasses are very similar to her teacher's and she has been teased for being a "Mini Mrs Teacher" ever since she got them.(Actually they're really nice with black rims and wide red sides.) She feels she has been given over for a different part purely on the basis of appearance.

And of course all the best parts have gone to the usual teachers' pets.

Sorry have now slapped myself round the face hard and shouted "LISTEN TO YOURSELF WOMAN!"

I am a teacher. I know exactly what I would think if a parent came and ranted at me for something like this. I'm sure I would be the laughing stock of the staffroom.

I wouldn't dream of going in and complaining but just SOOOO

Thanks for listening!

OP posts:
nickytwoooohtimes · 13/10/2008 19:25

YABU and you know it, lol!

needmorecoffee · 13/10/2008 19:26

best parts always go to the blonde teachers pet.

theSuburbanDryad · 13/10/2008 19:27

YA soooo NBU.

I missed out on the part of Mary in the school nativity for my entire school life because "Mary didn't wear glasses."

VictorianSqualorSquelchNSquirm · 13/10/2008 19:27

See, I would say something.
I'd say I understand DD may not have been right for a lead but she was a bit upset that not only has she been teased about her glasses now it is being reinforced with the part she has to play.
But only after I'd seen the lines and checked she didn't have a large part

DumbledoresGirl · 13/10/2008 19:28

LOL that is right up there with me who was peeved when my dd was chosen to play the title role of a Christmas play one year only to find out that all the accolades went to another girl with an amazing singing voice who got to sing a solo.

They sell photos of the children in their costume each year and the singer was photographed alone but my dd, with her title role, was photographed with a group of shepherds.

It sounds like your dd will be the best teacher the school has ever seen!

Blandmum · 13/10/2008 19:28

There is a MNetter who, as a child, was given the part of a rock in the nativity play.

A ROCK.

And she lived to tell the tale!

You are right, if you complained they would think your man! So just walk away and remember, she could have been a rock!

Original poster
smartiejacktheripper · 13/10/2008 19:30

That's exactly what I think victorian. she hasn't seen the script yet but if other school plays at this school I have seen are anything to go by it will be a one liner!

OP posts:
Original poster
smartiejacktheripper · 13/10/2008 19:31

Thanks MB you really made me laugh! I will remember that one.

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KatyMac · 13/10/2008 19:31

Aah well DD only got to be Mary in reception Nativity because I someone pointed out how nice it would be to have someone with similar colouring to the real Mary (DD is mixed race in a school of blondes)

BouncingTurtleSkulls · 13/10/2008 19:32

SuburbanDryad - I was too ugly to be Mary

But I was one of the three Kings instead, and the Nativity play that year was more about the Three Kings, and I got the first line, the most lines and a lot of the singing as well.
I had lots of parents coming up to me teeling me how good they thought I was and a picture taken with my teacher (who helped coach my singing!)

Grumpalina · 13/10/2008 19:40

I wanted to be Mary but only girls with long brown hair got to be Mary. I was always the second angel (not even Gabriel) and got to stand there in my petticoat (probably wouldn't be allowed these days) as second angel didn't even get a proper costume!!!

VictorianSqualorSquelchNSquirm · 13/10/2008 19:49

I got Dd the part of Mary in her nursery nativity.
As another 'always a shepherd, never a virgin' (Does that work?) I was sad that some little bitch girl got to play Mary her first year and she was a star(better than a rock...) so the next year I said to the Teacher 'Now DD is one of the older children does that mean she gets to play Mary? I assume it is her turn'
She got Mary.

wb · 13/10/2008 19:50

Second angel? That'd have been a step up for me.

I was always 'an angel' - as in, "there came a host of angel" and we all shuffled on for a few seconds.

Mary was always tall and blond and pretty

SinCity · 13/10/2008 19:59

It REALLY annoys me the way the same kids ALWAYS get the best parts.

wheresthehamster · 13/10/2008 20:06

I DREAMED of being any old angel.

This was the pecking order of our Nativites:-

  1. The tableau. The teachers' favourites.
  2. The angels. Blonde girls and boys who weren't in the tableau.
  3. The choir. Anyone left who could sing in tune.
  4. The verse-speakers. The Rest who sat at the side out of view.

You can guess what I was!

StewieGriffinsMom · 13/10/2008 20:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

larry5 · 13/10/2008 20:17

My dd actually got the part of Mary in her school nativity play one year. She did the dress rehearsal at school one afternoon and then I took her swimming. When she got out of the pool I realised that she was covered in chickenpox so that was the end of her performance.

Luckily we go to church and as the church nativity was a couple of weeks later she was chosen to be Mary there instead but I did feel so sorry for her (and me) as I never got the main part in any school play. All I ever got to be was a carrot!

Simplysally · 13/10/2008 20:33

I was usually one of the 'Shepherds' but one year I had two parts. I played a granny (non-speaking role) and then later on I was a dancing doll. I'd only auditioned for that when the teacher started to get a wild look in her eye as a dozen girls carthorsed around the stage. I ended up having ballet lessons out of it so I was quite happy about that.

My dd was cast as a sheep last year as all the speaking parts seem to go to the motormouths children born before April. I think sometimes they cast the children according to how big the costumes are.

InTheseShoes · 13/10/2008 20:37

Ds1 was Jesus in my mum's nativity, and as well as sobbing like a loon during the nativity scene (it's my PFB miracle baby playing the role of the greatest miracle of all etc) I was very delighted that because Jesus was played by the teachers PFB grandchild, she chose a "sturdy girl" to be mary - as a sturdy girl myself, I did feel glad that my child had helped a sturdy girl feel good about herself...

(PS, Ds was only held by the child for thirty seconds and I was there next to them the whole time)

constancereader · 13/10/2008 20:53

This thread is great - it is reminding me how absolutly brilliant it is that I am now a SAHM and no longer in charge of the Nativity Play

My mother has never forgiven me for crying when they picked me to be Mary and refusing to take part on the basis that I didn't want to kiss the boy who played Joseph. She brings it up every Christmas.

Stefka · 13/10/2008 20:58

I wanted to be the angel and every year it went to this girl with blonde hair. She was rubbish! Mary - also blonde. I got to carry the star on a stick for the three wise men to follow.

Stefka · 13/10/2008 21:00

I don't think yabu btw - I am a drama teacher and I hate it when teachers just cast the same old people all the time. It sounds like your dd was unfairly passed over.

HellboundNinkynork · 13/10/2008 21:05

I refused the part of Mary too, for similar reasons. It was an honour to be chosen as I was only in Reception but to my mother's great shame I told the HT that I wanted to "be a weary traveller and trudge to Bethlehem with Matthew"!

toadstool · 13/10/2008 21:10

In reception, DD1 was delighted with her Xmas play part, really excited: a sheep. In year 1, she was delighted and really excited: a squirrel. I've got used to watching the other kids reciting great chunks of script and emoting, while I take loyal photos of the top of her head (she is always sitting down below the all-singing angels and stars).
DH is mortified, he wants her to play Mary.
I'm awaiting this year's role with baited breath (I suspect she'd love to play a rock).

Original poster
smartiejacktheripper · 13/10/2008 21:14

Just remembered an embarrassing moment of my own.
At play school aged 4, I proudly wore my angel wings which were safety pinned onto the back of an old pillow case then proceeded to angelicly pick my nose through the whole performance (obviously learned my delicate manners from my very catholic upbringing.)

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