Serious or spoof?

Dreaming of a CO2-hysteric Christmas

Talking of green, one particular Richmond school, Blair elementary, is going all out this year with the planet-friendly theme with its Christmas production Santa Goes Green.

"It's a brand new musical and it's very topical, all about global warming and melting ice caps," the show's director and school music teacher, Cathy Silverberg, said. "One of the songs is called Greenhouse Effect and it's a great teaching tool as it's about the ozone layer."

Santa Goes Green, which will be attended by Mayor Malcolm Brodie at its 10 a.m. performance Thursday, Dec. 11, will have western, heavy rock, ballad and jazz numbers.

But, as the show title suggests, there will be strong environmental messages woven through the play.

"Other songs include Turn Off The Pump, which is about taking public transit, and It's Our World," Silverberg said.

"Santa is effectively the stooge in this one as he thinks going green means Christmas trees and holly.

"As the show progresses he gets educated and there are references to his sleigh being powered by clean-burning gas and Rudolph having an LED nose."