"I was filled with joy when I heard the Southern Cape Children’s Choir practicing in the distance and looked at the perfect setting around the amphitheatre at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at Oubaai. People were streaming in, children were enjoying selecting the prettiest candle holder from the hundreds made by SPCA volunteers before settling down on the lawn. Everyone had their programmes at hand with the words of the traditional Christmas Carols, so that they could join in," said Church.
The Hyatt Choir just started their second song when the heavens opened on the crowd. This was no shower - it was a deluge. People ducked for shelter where they could and there was a mad scramble to get tons of sound equipment and a piano under shelter. Everything and everyone got soaked.
No one had anticipated such a downpour. The public were directed to an inside venue, but the equipment was wet and couldn’t be moved.
A few people decided to go home, but many more decided to stay and were richly rewarded for doing so.
A damp Southern Cape Children’s Choir and singer, Voldi George agreed to perform without any accompaniment, for a wet but hugely appreciative audience. Disaster turned into sheer magic. The audience could not get enough and a few songs stretched to many more, including Away in a manger, Silent night and other much-loved carols.
"The Garden Route SPCA would like to thank and congratulate the amazing artists for entering into the true spirit of Christmas," said Church.
"It’s all about ‘giving’ and they did. We also would like to say a huge thank you to the Hyatt Regency Hotel, for everything they did from beginning to end. Our gratitude also goes to Davano of Unique Avcom for the sound staging and Wilma Moorcraft who did the décor. The Garden Route is indeed fortunate to have such great support and assistance. Next year, all being well, we will arrange to have our Carols by Candlelight indoors - just in case," Church added with a laugh.
The Southern Cape Children’s Choir - wet but just wonderful.
