THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER is playing through December 15 at the North Beach Boys and Girls Club. This Twin Beach Players production will be performed Friday and Saturday nights, December 13 and 14 at 7 and Sunday, December 15 at 3 p.m.
I’ve been writing performing arts reviews for a couple of decades now, and many times I’ve said that a show was so hilarious, I was rolling on the floor with laughter (a figure of speech, meant as the highest praise). But honestly, this is the very first show I’ve ever reviewed where I can say that I laughed til I cried – and that is one notch higher on the praise-o-meter scale!
The book by the same name was written by Barbara Robinson in 1971 and tells the story of the six delinquent Herdman kids who attend church for their very first time – enticed by the promise of free refreshments – and somehow manage to snag roles in the Sunday school’s annual Christmas pageant. Their version of the Christmas story, however, is somewhat non-traditional and unconventional; the resulting final performance is both uproarious and poignant.
The original story was first published in McCall’s magazine and then adapted to book form. Subsequently, Robinson turned it into a play which was first performed in 1982 in Seattle, WA. The TV movie, also penned by Ms. Robinson, aired on ABC in 1983 and starred Loretta Swit (of TV’s MASH).
Sequels with further adventures of the Herdmans are titled The Best Halloween Ever, and The Best School Year Ever.
I cannot imagine a time in the future when I may again encounter a production of this play that I wouldn’t hold the cast (which numbered close to 50 individuals at Twin Beach) to the same high performance quality of the members of the Twin Beach cast. Adults and children alike are uncannily suited to each particular role (kudos to Youth Troupe Director Regan Cashman for being so expertly attuned to her performers’ talents).
During Scene 1’s “A Director is Born” we are introduced to the Bradley family. Daughter Beth (Victoria Rodriguez in her second TBP play)
