As the film opens the career of George Frideric Handel is in tatters Invited to Dublin to present the premiere of a new choral work The Messiah he cant find singers adequate for the job A boy who steals a chicken runs into Mr Handel The boys Mother was NOT an employee at the Cathedral she cleaned and ironed shirts so the mother bribes Mr Handel with nonstarched shirts to save her boy from being in jail The choir sucks until the washer ladys son is discovered by Handel