In the frenetic pre-holiday rush of social gatherings, events, and accumulating deadlines, it can feel overwhelming to keep track and choose the ones worth fitting into your calendar. But you can rest assured that you have picked well when you are welcomed at the entrance of Orangeriet with a hot chocolate voucher and a lovely Christmas patch. SHOWTIME does the honours, inviting guests to take a seat, grab one or two pillows, a blanket, and make themselves comfortable while waiting for the show to begin. Cozy little lights and a cute, decorated tree leave you with little doubt: the Christmas Special you came to attend will sparkle with holiday magic. To complete the picture, it’s Santa and a little helper who take the stage to introduce the audience to Home Alone: SHOWTIME Christmas Special.
Applause fills the high ceiling of the glass room as the platform comes alive. Musicians take their places, and after the drummer sets the tempo, the magic begins. Guitars, a violin, several keyboards—the music is sparkling and energetic, and the repertoire catches the audience by surprise. Instead of the usual carols, SHOWTIME’s performance delights with some everyday hits. The art director must have said, “shuffle the deck!” as singers and musicians alternate under the spotlight. Female and male voices, deep and high-pitched, in choir or solo—new line-ups are rearranged after every song. Yet the result remains the same: the audience is successfully engaged, clapping along and showering every performance with generous applause. Even when a predictable Last Christmas reminds us of the occasion celebrated. And just like in any show worthy of its name, the fatal question is loudly asked by the drummer as the rest of the band has already left the stage: “Want another?” Silly you! Your audience is hungry—give them more! The bass is on fire, and the guitar solo gives you goosebumps.
One thing can be said with certainty: they are having fun – you can tell. And it’s contagious.
Long minutes of applause accompany the band’s final act, just before Santa and the helper manage to get some shy smiles to their silly jokes. They invite guests to grab their mugs and form a line in front of the hot chocolate dispenser (extra inclusivity points to SHOWTIME for providing a vegan option, too!). But the entertainment never stops, not even during the intermission! While waiting to fill their plates with snacks and candies, every spectator is invited to show their mug to the camera to enter the “best cup competition” in hopes of winning exciting prizes.
With full stomachs, some members of the audience are later invited to form two teams and compete in the Christmas Olympics, a series of themed, funny games, followed by a Music Quiz, which turns everyone’s festive spirit into a competitive one, as they are asked to guess movies’ title, songs’ lyrics, singers, and production years.
At this point, the stage is left to those who deserve it, giving space for the dancers, who fire up the audience with their captivating moves, raising the temperature in the room, one choreography after the other.
Then, the moment everyone’s been waiting for: the award ceremony and the presentation of prizes for the best mug and the best Christmas sweater. And finally, it’s time for a bit of seriousness as the President takes the microphone to offer warm acknowledgments to teachers and performers.
After more than two hours of pure entertainment, it’s time for the audience to step back into the freezing darkness of December’s night. Some may be humming their favourite song from the show, others tapping their feet on the asphalt, guided by the music in their headphones. Most may be considering joining SHOWTIME next semester, hoping to be the next showman shining under the footlights.
Writer: Silvia Dal Sasso
