16 December 2011, 18:22
Other news

Two out of three women believe the girl cast as the Virgin Mary in school nativities is chosen on looks, favouritism and being a swot.

A new survey, carried out in early December to launch a new Facebook animation called Roll on Christmas, starring comedian Milton Jones, discovered a mere three per cent believe the role is chosen on acting ability.

‘We have unearthed a simmering tension among the tea towels,’ said Steve Goddard, co-creator of Roll on Christmas. ‘Our do-it-yourself online nativity play allows you to get your own back - placing family and friends in a two-minute, toilet roll animation featuring the usual Bethlehem suspects, from the wise men to Herod. Many people play Elf Yourself online. This is Virgin Mary Yourself.

‘Ironically, one of the great distinctives about the Biblical narrative is the way the “leads” - Moses, for example - weren’t picked on the basis of appearance or accomplishment.’

According to the survey, carried out among 1018 adults throughout the UK by Christian Research, the popularity of parts in the nativity play changes as people get older.

Two out of five (42 per cent) of the women surveyed wanted, as children, to play Mary. One in four (23 per cent) of men wanted to play Joseph. However, the same people would choose different roles if cast in a nativity play today.

Innkeeper—has doubled in popularity (from six per cent to 11 per cent for men)
Joseph—has slumped for adults (from 23 per cent to 10 per cent for men)
Herod—has soared in popularity for adults (from eight per cent to 16 per cent for men)
Mary—has plummeted for adults (from 42 per cent to 10 per cent for women)

‘Have we created “Nativity Play Mary” as a nun that has no fun and Joseph as so wooden that, as adults, we no longer identify with them as real people?’ said Simon Jenkins, co-creator of Roll on Christmas and editor of iconoclastic webzine Ship of Fools. ‘It’s deemed a fairy story and, as adults, we end up identifying with the Bethlehem Baddies: Herod and the Innkeeper.’

The premise for Roll on Christmas is a play where the sentimental is subverted.

‘The original characters – from shepherds to innkeeper - were ordinary people with foibles, caught up in a divine drama,’ explained Rachel Rounds of co-creators Bible Society. ‘We wanted to show they were human like us. Roll on Christmas caricatures the way we tend to behave over the festive period - shopping, drinking, eating, partying and celebrating to excess. And missing the point.’

Milton Jones, who provides the voiceover for Roll on Christmas, said: ‘It’s easy to get all sentimental about the birth of any baby. It’s what this baby grew up to become that is finally important. Part of the problem about Christmas is that it’s hard to get traction on a story that is too well known. Roll on Christmas provides a new, contemporary spin in an original setting.

‘While the production has a panto element, and plays fast and loose with the traditional story, there’s a message, too. It sheds new light on a beautiful and timeless story, especially if you’ve ever used a toilet roll. In fact, these toilet rolls will touch everyone.’

Photo by Alan in Belfast