Staff Writer
It is not often that you see one of the three wise men offer the newborn savior a welfare ham. This is just one of the many humorous twists to the traditional nativity play— the hidden gem presented in the play within a play in the theater production of Long Beach Playhouse’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
Upon reading a preview of the play that described the story of six juvenile delinquents who lie and cheat and smoke cigars— even the girls— I was convinced that I would be in store for an unconventional and fun take on the true meaning behind Christmas. Through the many antics and memorable lines delivered by a cast of brilliant actors, all under the age of 12, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever truly delivers the fast-paced, family-friendly play that was adapted from the 1972 holiday classic of the same name.
To quote the character of Grace Bradley, who takes on the task of directing the Sunday school’s annual Christmas play for the first time, “There are no small parts, only small characters.” The small actors with dynamite talent take reign of the play with their sharp, tongue-in-cheek jokes and vivacious performances distinct to each character.
As the story goes, the brood of misfits known as the Herdmans decides to take a break from terrorizing the school grounds and starts attending Sunday school for the first time after being told that the church offers cakes and cookies for snacks. The welfare-raised Herdmans have proudly stolen lunch from kids by bullying, and, as described by the perfectly annoying, goody two-shoes character of Alice Wlendleken, have even stolen from the school’s birthday bank.
After bullying the fellow Sunday school kids out of auditioning for any of the major roles in the Christmas pageant, the cynical Herdmans take over the play, providing an unlikely picturesque nativity scene that includes a tough girl Mary, menacing Joseph and tomboyish, comic-book character of the Angel of the Lord, played by the energetic Julia Golison, who quite easily steals the show.
The play is set to two simple backdrops with one functioning as the Bradley House in Act 1, and the second backdrop serving as the stage for the church and Christmas pageant in Act 2. The adult actors, who never overpower with their performances, perfectly complement the children’s scenes and often usher in some of the standout lines delivered by the Herdmans.
The memorable scenes come during the Christmas pageant as two angels sing and dance to holiday church hymns in Glee-like fashion, the shepherds come out in bathrobes with hockey-stick staffs, and the littlest and quietest of the Herdmans offers up the ham from their welfare basket for baby Jesus.
Without giving away too much of the play, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever reveals a change of heart for the Herdmans and demonstrates how the tradition of a putting on a Christmas play can still captivate the hearts of even the most stubborn non-believers. The play ends with a sing-along of holiday classics led by the cast, sealing in the holiday cheer brought about by the end of the production.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will continue on Thursdays at 8pm, Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm through Saturday, Dec. 24. Tickets are available at lbplayhouse.org or by calling (562) 494-1014, option 1.
