October 2004

A few weeks ago Brown Owl said we were all going to start work on our Entertainer badge. She’d spoken to staff at the nearby old people’s home and they’d agreed we could put on a show for their residents…

“It’ll be a variety show, like those lovely ones Bruce Forsythe and Des O’Connor used to host on a Saturday night. We’ll have singers and dancers…and maybe one of you could tell some jokes. You’d better go home and have a good think about what you’re going to do,” she said.

Mum picked me up from Brownies and as we walked home I asked: “What’s a variety show?” And who is Bruce Forsythe?”

Mum explained that a variety show is made up of lots of different acts and there’s someone called a compere who links it all together by chatting to the audience and introducing the performers.

“They used to be very popular when I was a young girl,” she said, “The whole family used to sit down together on a Saturday night to watch. Brucie was one of the comperes.”

When we got home I told dad about the show and asked if he had any idea what I could do. Lots of the girls had already decided to play their musical instruments or do a ballet or tap routine they’d learned at dancing classes. But I couldn’t think of anything.

Then the phone rang. It was a very excited Genie.

“I’ve already thought of something!” she said, “I’m going to dress up as Britney Spears and sing along and dance to one of her songs. Mum’s going to help me put the outfit together. What do you think?”

Well, of course I said I thought it was a great idea…and she’d make a brilliant Britney, though I really didn’t think she looked much like her. But at least she had an idea and I hadn’t thought of anything.

I looked in my badge book for inspiration… Stage a puppet show? Recite a poem? Sing a song? I didn’t really fancy any of those. By the time the next Brownie meeting arrived I still hadn’t come up with anything.

All the other Brownies performed their little acts for Brown Owl and Snowy Owl to see. There were violins, guitars and flutes, ballet routines, tap dances and a judo display. Even Genie’s Britney dance was pretty impressive.

“And what are you planning to do Dot?” said Brown Owl. “If you haven’t thought of anything we’re going to need a compere.”

The compere! What a great idea… Brown Owl gave me a list of all the acts and I went home and wrote a script saying a little bit about each one.

On the night I wore a school shirt with dad’s bow tie (the one he saves for very special occasions) and mum made me something called a cummerbund, which was a bright red strip of material that went round my waist like a big belt.

The old people thought the show was great. They clapped and cheered – and some of them even sang along to Genie’s Britney song. I didn’t think they’d know the words! And they said we all deserved our Entertainer badges, which was brilliant!

If you want to find out more about Brownies and Guides in your local area why not visit their excellent web site:

www.girlguiding.org.uk