London
- An English church has ditched its traditional Nativity play for a Beach
Boys-themed show telling the story of Christmas with the help of songs such as
Good Vibrations and Fun Fun Fun.
Christ's mother Mary is transformed into a "surfer chick" singing God Only Knows in the yuletide spectacular put on by St Stephen's church in Tonbridge, south-east of London.
"We were fed up with twee nativity plays ... They are nice but they can just be a bit dull," said youth pastor Jim Prestwood, explaining the thinking behind the show. "It made it a bit more realistic, a bit more attractive to people."
In
the new interpretation, the shepherds are transformed into Sir Alf Ramsay's 1966
World Cup-winning England football squad, and perform the chart-topping Good
Vibrations.
The three Wise Men are presented as the brothers at the core of the five-piece Beach Boys - Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson - singing their timeless tribute to the Californian surfing lifestyle, Fun, Fun, Fun.
The show, featuring a 50-strong cast aged three to 18, was performed at last weekend's Sunday service.
"It was a fun approach, but with a serious message - that maybe we look for glory in the wrong places," said Prestwood.
The original story can be found HERE.