Playing Santa
Playing Santa is something that happens when you least expect it: all it seems to take is one young god-daughter and a desperate request from her primary school for the Christmas fair. Next moment you are donning the familiar red and white get up and practicing your 'Ho! Ho! Ho!' in front of a mirror, before spending a few hours entertaining a hundred or so small children and their parents and carers. It is true this isn't playing the Dane and you won't be giving De Niro a run for the money, but it is considerably easier that you'd think.
While I can't say that my twenty years of being a university academic or a theatre critic and book reviewer really prepared me – although I did wonder what Stanislavsky the great exponent of method acting might have advised me to do- there's no doubt the most important thing is the costume. And so this year I tried out one from the hire shop Escapade based in Camden, who have been supplying fancy dress to Londoners for some 30 years (www.escapade.co.uk/). At £30 for 3-5 days hire it is good value – but do remember to get the all-important long white beard and white wig.
In fact small children don't ask awkward questions of you and even in a North London primary school, the children still have a sweet naiveté about Santa and seem to enjoy the whole process. Despite what some web sites say they don't try and trip you up by checking if you know the names of all Santa's reindeer : for your information they are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder (or Donner), Blitzen and that late arrival Rudolph, of the glowing nose. Questions about delivering presents all over the globe simultaneously are usually dealt with speedily by talk of teleporting and multiple-universes. Folk knowledge of quantum mechanics and endless science blarney in Dr. Who have made Santa's job that much easier nowadays!
Escapade's costume was better made and thicker fabric than the cheaper quality ones you sometimes get in fancy dress shops. However , what was most impressive was the separate white beard and wig, A really bushy white beard resembling an unkempt old English sheepdog seems to be what really convinces the children the most and this one from Escapade was particularly handsome – I could barely recognise myself in the mirror. Mind you – neither could my little god-daughter! I also hired the Santa overboots, however in the end decided not to use them, though they would be useful if you weren't wearing black shoes.
There do seem to be just really three things children expect from Santa Claus, apart that is from small presents delivered to them by a fairy helper. Firstly, a question about whether they have been good that year – parents and grandparents will love you if you suggest tidying up their room and reading books are the main examples of being good. Second, discussion about what food they are leaving the reindeer – this gives you a chance to put in a plug for green vegetables in true Jamie Oliver style. And finally, asking them what their most wished for present is – this gives parents a last chance to make sure the little ones aren't disappointed.
So as long as you have the costume, then do feel free to give it a go if you are asked: it is much easier than it looks.
For Santa suits and more visit www.escapade.co.uk
While I can't say that my twenty years of being a university academic or a theatre critic and book reviewer really prepared me – although I did wonder what Stanislavsky the great exponent of method acting might have advised me to do- there's no doubt the most important thing is the costume. And so this year I tried out one from the hire shop Escapade based in Camden, who have been supplying fancy dress to Londoners for some 30 years (www.escapade.co.uk/). At £30 for 3-5 days hire it is good value – but do remember to get the all-important long white beard and white wig.
In fact small children don't ask awkward questions of you and even in a North London primary school, the children still have a sweet naiveté about Santa and seem to enjoy the whole process. Despite what some web sites say they don't try and trip you up by checking if you know the names of all Santa's reindeer : for your information they are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder (or Donner), Blitzen and that late arrival Rudolph, of the glowing nose. Questions about delivering presents all over the globe simultaneously are usually dealt with speedily by talk of teleporting and multiple-universes. Folk knowledge of quantum mechanics and endless science blarney in Dr. Who have made Santa's job that much easier nowadays!
Escapade's costume was better made and thicker fabric than the cheaper quality ones you sometimes get in fancy dress shops. However , what was most impressive was the separate white beard and wig, A really bushy white beard resembling an unkempt old English sheepdog seems to be what really convinces the children the most and this one from Escapade was particularly handsome – I could barely recognise myself in the mirror. Mind you – neither could my little god-daughter! I also hired the Santa overboots, however in the end decided not to use them, though they would be useful if you weren't wearing black shoes.
There do seem to be just really three things children expect from Santa Claus, apart that is from small presents delivered to them by a fairy helper. Firstly, a question about whether they have been good that year – parents and grandparents will love you if you suggest tidying up their room and reading books are the main examples of being good. Second, discussion about what food they are leaving the reindeer – this gives you a chance to put in a plug for green vegetables in true Jamie Oliver style. And finally, asking them what their most wished for present is – this gives parents a last chance to make sure the little ones aren't disappointed.
So as long as you have the costume, then do feel free to give it a go if you are asked: it is much easier than it looks.
For Santa suits and more visit www.escapade.co.uk