Nativity play on horseback tomorrow
Ever heard the nativity story straight from the horse's mouth?
Well, this is your chance to hear it.
A horse riding school in Mossel Bay hosts its first nativity play - on horseback this weekend.
Riding instructor Linkey Jones explains that the school ends of every year with a fun event or pony camp for the riders. This year indeed presented its challenges, limiting the options, but following a brainstorming session with the rest of the instructors, it was decided to host something refreshingly new.
"It started with the idea to host a pony camp and let our riders present a play to their parents, but then we decided to do something different."
For the past seven years, Jones and her husband, Warren have been involved with the staging of Milkwood Primary's annual year-end production. Again, the Covid-19 pandemic changed the normal course of events. "We always, somehow, presented the nativity during the school's year-end production. And the unique set of circumstances provided us with the opportunity to do exactly that, and to now also involve our riders." Sixty riders will participate in the nativity play tomorrow, 12 December. "We have been practising for just more than a month now, following the completion of the script. Every single one of our riders is participating."
The star of the show however, is Lulu, in the role of Mary's donkey. Lulu, whose age is 30 to 40 years, according to the dentist treating her, is the narrator.
"The rest of the story is woven together from songs and we are providing the audience with the lyrics in order to follow the development of the storyline," Jones explains.
Lulu, in her day a true champion show pony, remarkably survived horse sickness 14 years ago. The Joneses purchased her when their eldest son, now 21, was two years old. "Lulu is the grand dame of our stables. She goes where she pleases and eats what she likes."
The stables took careful consideration about staging the nativity play. "It is an open air show and entrance is free. Please bring you own chair and picnic baskets are welcome."
The show starts at 14:30 at Souled Out Stables, corner of Casino and Louis Fourie road. For more information, contact Linkey (083 304 1564).