Tinsel

The Pebbledon Repertory Theatre Company is rehearsing their Christmas show, ‘A Christmas Cracker’, the proceeds from which are always donated to the local children’s orphanage. Since the death of their benefactor, Henry Pebbledon, four years ago, the theatre has fallen on hard times. There is a lack of basic amenities, the heating is inadequate, the fixtures and fittings are antiquated; the cast are working with a crude, incomplete set, unreliable lighting, and cheap, tatty costumes. To add to these problems, the heir to the late Henry Pebbledon’s estate – the daughter he once gave up for adoption – cannot be found, and the theatre is likely to fall into the hands of his only other surviving relative, his great-great-niece, Stacey Starchy.

Aided and abetted by her private investigator, Bertie Blogger, Starchy is determined to find out what has happened to the missing daughter. She hopes to prove that the daughter has died, so that Starchy herself will inherit the property; she has certain plans for the theatre, which will force it to close.

But, despite Starchy’s best endeavours to discredit her, Theatre Manager Tiny Pursestring fights to keep the theatre open. She confides in Maggie, the tea lady, that she’s been unable to neither pay rent nor give the children’s orphanage their essential funds. However, Maggie has great faith in Tiny’s abilities as the Theatre Manager and knows that she’ll work it out.

Help is at hand in the shape of Rudolph, an unemployed actor, who turns up mysteriously that same day, and is subsequently given a role in the production. Determined to thwart Starchy, he enlists the help of Jenny, their stage-struck Stage Manager, who has aspirations of being a star, but no confidence. She eventually realises her dream when, having been encouraged by Rudolph to stand in for the absent leading lady, she creates the magic that turns the production round.  

In the finale we see Starchy’s plans thwarted, and Vic Wad – a wealthy property developer who re-discovers his lost love in the cast – invests the money needed to up-grade the theatre and ensure that the show goes on. Christmas in Pebbledon is saved.