Christmas play staged at the Milnerton Playhouse

At back, from left, are the visitor (Simon Speck), Paul (Werner Steffen) Beth (Melissa Sanderson), Julia (Beryl Eichenberger) and Uncle Bernie (Trevor Joubert). Seated are Father John (Richard Wade) and Aunt Rosemary (Brigitte Scherz).

Milnerton Playhouse presents The Christmas Spirit by Frederick Stroppel from Friday November 23 to Saturday December 8.

Set in contemporary London suburbia, Julia Dowling has an unexpected and unwelcome visitor on Christmas Eve in the person of Death, who has come to take her off to the afterlife. To delay the purpose of his visit, Julia invites him to a family Christmas dinner with a family she hadn’t planned on inviting.

He arrives on Christmas Day expecting the full Dickens Christmas dinner with roast goose, plum pudding and all the trimmings.

The house is then filled with bickering relatives, the local priest and Death singing carols and drinking eggnog.

The cast of nine includes Beryl Eichenberger as Julia and Simon Speck as the Visitor. They are supported by Melissa Sanderson (Beth), Brigitte Scherz (Aunt Rosemary), Trevor Joubert (Uncle Bernie), Werner Steffen (Paul), Nakita Allen (Melissa), Richard Wade (Father John) and Gary Green (Matthew).

Based very roughly on the play Death Takes a Holiday, the production is directed by Sheila McCormick. Evening performances on Fridays and Saturdays November 23, 24 and 30 and December 1, 7 and 8 are at 8pm. Matinees on Saturdays November 24 and December 1 and 8 are at 2.30pm.

Tickets cost R90 for evening performances and R80 for matinees.

Call 082 267 1061 or email Bookings@milnertonplayers.com for more information or visit www.milnertonplayers.co.za/shows to book.

Three Tabletalk readers can each win a pair of tickets to see The Christmas Spirit on Friday November 30 or Saturday December 1. Winners will be able to see one of the 8pm shows on Friday or Saturday or the 2.30pm show on Saturday. To win, SMS TTChristmas with your name and contact details, including email address, to 33258 before midnight on Sunday November 18. SMSes cost R1.50 each.