MARKET Rasen's traditional Christmas mime was a very moving event – in both senses of the word.
The event, which takes place in the market town every four years, was put together by the combined churches and directed with great compassion by David Young.
The programme said the mime would "bring the nativity to life" and it did, despite a downpour that began shortly before the start and ended as it finished.
Despite that, the large crowd that assembled in front of the market place auction shed, huddled under umbrellas throughout, were captivated by the actors who brought great dignity to the event.
This was a community event with the shops clustered around the cobbled square united in their support.
The square was silent from start to finish, save for the rain, as the moving story was told with words wonderfully clear through an amplified system. There was no singing just background music supplemented by handbells.
Geoff Handford and Jenny Atkinson were the narrators but, apart from them, nobody spoke – they did not need to. Mike Eckersley, as the Angel Gabriel, began the story and there was wonderful expression conveyed by Brian Burns as Joseph and Tracey Burns as Mary.
They were led to the stable by Cash the donkey, brought all the way from his seaside home at Ingoldmells for his lead role.
There is a natural set for this production in Market Rasen market place and so, when Joseph knocked at the door of the inn – the Aston Arms in this case – he was politely told by the innkepper John Fox that there was "no room tonight".
The scene moved on to the manger, the town's auction shed, almost next door.
The shepherds arrived and then, with dignity, the three wise men, played by Quin Hough, Mike Maw and David Islip.
So good and moving was the 2012 Market Rasen Christmas mime, it seems a pity that we will have to wait until 2016 for a repeat.
