Michael Reckord, Contributer
THE $16-MILLION expansion programme for St Richard's church, Red Hills Road, got a major boost on Friday night. It came with the staging of a colourful, energetic and fun-filled Christmas concert by Fr. Ho Lung and Friends.
The approximately two dozen singers and dancers continually changed from colourful costumes to even more colourful costumes as they performed - not only sang - 22 songs, most of them written by Fr Ho Lung and the group's musical director Wynton Williams.
Marilyn Headley, chair of the Fundraising Committee, the organisers of the well attended concert in the large church hall, told The Gleaner that the concert was the fourth fund-raising venture for the year. Every year, she said, there were at least three major ones, all geared toward garnering the approximate $16 million figure.
Among the sections to be built, she said, was a Home Room in which the children in the volatile, violence plagued community could do home work. She added that the church caters to about 500 children and a Christmas treat was scheduled for the following day.
In the first half, the choir sang, danced and dramatised ten songs, the most popular of which were Glory, Glory and Christmas is Here! While all the songs were about the Christmas season, they were delivered in a variety of ways. Some were by the full choir, some by soloists, some by small groups. Most were in Standard English, but there were a few in patois, such as Shepherd Boy.
Red and white were the dominant colours for the choir's costumes for the first half, but one dancer who accompanied a song (Little Boy) wore blue and white, and the men singing We Three Kings looked quite regal in turbans and purple robes over their red and white attire.
The main dancers were Carolyn Gardener and Clayton Gidden, the latter being the group's choreographer.
Shortly after the choir returned from an intermission for the second half of the show- attired in bright floral costumes - Fr Ho Lung entered, with apologies for his late arrival.
He led the audience through a couple of items - Alle, Alle and I See the Sunlight, a love song, then asked for a short silence in memory of two members of Brothers of the Poor who were murdered recently. The sombre mood was soon dispelled however, as later Fr Ho Lung led the choir and audience in cheerful songs and the hilarious skit/song Blinkin Bus.
Before the final scheduled song, I Am That I Am, the church pastor Fr. Howard Thompson and Fund Raising committee member Mike Ireland thanked the performers, with Ireland handing out gifts to each performer.
With Musical Director Williams on keyboards, the choir gave the audience "brawta" in the form of a medley of catchy gospel songs, including Fly Away Home, What a Glory That Will Be, Wonderful Day and Amen.
