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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:
Joolyjoolyjoo · 13/10/2008 21:18

LOl at this thread! I always got to be the narrator, although they tried to sweeten it a bit by leting me wear a costume- ie I got to be a narrating angel. And once I got to be a "wandering spirit" narrator- which disappointingly involved me wearing a leotard covered with a white net curtain. I SO wanted a REAL part. Still, I guess I at least got some lines- I seem to remember one production which included lots of "flowers" and "bumble bees"

Simplysally · 13/10/2008 21:57

We did one playlet about oil one year (not for the Nativity obviously) and most of the girls had to dress as traditonal Arab women. I had the only yashmak that didn't sit over the lower part of my face as I refused to let them tie it over my face. It makes me laugh when I think about it now but my parents were probably mortified.

fizzbuzz · 13/10/2008 22:03

My surname was Shepherd..guess which part I got every year, without fail with a fetching line in tea towels as headwear

Mary was also always blonde, as was Angel Gabriel.

Ds was a donkey in his

zazen · 13/10/2008 22:07

wow, you are being funny OP.

Consider this a valuable life lesson for your DD - people are judged on their appearances.

I mean how do you think Kate Moss got her job?

deste · 13/10/2008 22:45

I dont remember my DD getting anything in the school nativity, not even a rock. She probably wasn't the brainiest kid in the class, or the richest. She is a professional actress now so what do the schools know.

Tryharder · 13/10/2008 22:48

Joolyjoolyjoo, I was always the narrator too [sighs]. My best friend was Angel Gabriel as she had lovely long hair. Im quite sure a blonde girl played Mary

This thread is great.

DS1 was one of the 3 kings at his last nativity and even I have to admit, he was pretty crap(jostled the other kings, crown fell off, didnt sing the carols - just stood there looking dozy). I'm not holding out on him being promoted to Joseph this year

BoysAreLikeZombies · 13/10/2008 22:54

Arf

have just remembered about DS2 in pre-school. He told me about the story of the baby and a man called Joe Sniff.

har har

Original poster
smartiejacktheripper · 13/10/2008 22:56

LOL!

OP posts:
Quattrocento · 13/10/2008 23:03

DS always always gets the lead part.

This year, he informs me (slightly self-consciously) that he is Mary in the school play.

Fair enough, it's a boy's school, and someone has to play a girl's part.

It has all the best lines, including (to my surprise) "I know not a man".

The thing is, my DS is tall. Very tall. He simply towers over Joseph.

Poor DS

edam · 13/10/2008 23:09

I'm not still bitter about this, at all, oh nooooooooo... but it was ALWAYS a blonde with blue eyes who got to play Mary. My mother really cheered me up by pointing out, loudly, that Mary was a middle Eastern and Jewish so it was pretty odd casting.

Quattrocento · 13/10/2008 23:13

My Mary is NOT blonde

kiddiz · 13/10/2008 23:16

My ds2 was a king in his nursery nativity. The elastic snapped in his royal trousers half way through and they fell down. To his credit ds camly stepped out of them and continued the rest of the performance in is bright red underpants! The whole thing is immortalised on video much to ds's horror as he is now 17!!

Vulgar · 13/10/2008 23:18

Ds's school are really po faced about the nativity and only have a few of the teachers faves as the main characters. The costumes are pretty poor as well.

what's wrong with having loads of angels and shepherds so everyone can have a part? I'm sure all the parents will get out the tea towels and tinsel for the costume making.

and it's a very small school

and it's held in the cathedral.

all in all it's a curiously joyless experience.

Original poster
smartiejacktheripper · 13/10/2008 23:23

I don't think this would bother me so much if it was just an infants Nativity play but this is a fairly big year 5 production of 120 pupils.They haven't done a production for 2 years and DD was really looking forward to it. Now all she has to look forward to is being teased about her glasses.

My DD takes her drama seriously and is actually rather talented.

Oh dear I'm off again aren't I?

Someone slap me please!

OP posts:
solidgoldskullonastick · 13/10/2008 23:24

Not had to deal with this yet (DS only just 4) and hopefully won't have to as he will be going to a non-faith school but I do pity the teachers who have to deal with this. There are always going to be only so many decent parts in the play with the rest of the DC having to be rocks, trees, sheperds and sheep or whatever, and no matter who they cast there will always be parents whining that their PFB should have had a better part.

Original poster
smartiejacktheripper · 13/10/2008 23:27

I haven't whined about it to the school- neither would I.

Have you actually read my original post?

DD got a part based on the fact she wears glasses. They obviously thought it would save on the props budget!

OP posts:
TeenyTinyTorya · 13/10/2008 23:29

My dh has just cast two school plays (he is a peripatetic music and drama teacher). There have been about 15 parents who have complained because their child didn't get the part they wanted.

He has explained to them all that the parts were cast based on -

  1. the best performance
  2. but also the easiest people to work with
  3. but also the people who don't have a "stage school" attitude and think they're amazing

Three teachers spent a week auditioning and deciding the casts, they don't need hassle from parents who are upset over such a trivial thing.

So after listening to all the hassle he's gone through, I'd have to say YABU!

CandleQueen · 13/10/2008 23:33

Auditions? Our school, EVERYBODY has a part and they all troop up on stage at some point, especially a rousing finale.
Having said that, there are only 60 children in the school!

Original poster
smartiejacktheripper · 13/10/2008 23:35

I HAVEN'T COMPLAINED TO THE SCHOOL!

My DD does not have an over inflated opinion of her abilities.

Her teacher told me she was one of the best! SHe was chosen for this part BECAUSE SHE WEARS GLASSES!

Jeez I am going to bed. Goodnight!

OP posts:
Quattrocento · 13/10/2008 23:35

Never answered the OP sorry but YABU

What's this sentence all about then?

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

Ozziegirly · 14/10/2008 02:29

I was Mary in the school play. I am blonde and was somewhat of a teachers pet. But then at my first school I was never chosen for anything as they always used to choose the quiet, shy and retiring children, which I now see is lovely but at the time I was very about.

So teachers can't win really.

bleurgh · 14/10/2008 05:59

oh totally yanbu and I woulnd't slap you

you are quite right

StewieGriffinsMom · 14/10/2008 09:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

TeenyTinyTorya · 14/10/2008 09:52

Candle - in dh's schools, children are auditioned for the dozen or so main parts, and then everyone else sings, dances or acts in the chorus or in non-speaking parts.

I understand it might not be the same in all schools, but where he works, it's very fairly done.

Simplysally · 14/10/2008 09:53

I have to reply to SGM: in my primary school there was one (un) fortunate boy who had a very good singing voice and he sang in a choir. He was banned from singing with the rest of the class as he his voice was too good and it would have sounded odd according to the teacher. I must admit we thought it a bit of a joke that Philip was silenced in this way but I bet his Mum wasn't amused. I wonder now why they didn't give him a solo esp as the HT was really into music.

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