And the Angel of the Lord appeared to them and said … "Shazaam"???
Indeed she did. At least, in the Seattle Public Theater's hilarious production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson, she did. And I have to give Gabriella O'Fallon, who plays Gladys Herdman, a huge shout-out for her impeccable comedic timing. For all of you parents who have been casting about for a holiday show which is age-appropriate and not too lengthy or "quiet" (if you have a rowdy 5-year-old boy, you know what I mean), look no further. This one-hour play is fast-paced, funny and full of kids. And kids always love to watch kids.
My husband and I took one of our sons to the performance on Friday night, and it was a very successful theater experience for him. The cast utilized the entire stage AND the aisles for the entrances and exits, and my son's head flipped side-to-side more rapidly than at a tennis match. He was mesmerized.
The story was easy to follow, with the help of narrator Beth (played by Skylar Tibbets), who was both disarming and charming. In a nutshell, the town has been victimized by six siblings, the Herdmans, for many years. They are tough, loud and brash bullies. They steal lunches, they smart mouth, they start fights, and the only place in town untouched by their terrorism is the church – until the day a misguided child makes the mistake of telling the Herdmans that free refreshments are served at church.
Unfortunately, it's the year the usual pageant director is laid up with a broken leg and the well-meaning, but reluctant, mother of Beth (played by Candace Vance) is brought in as a substitute director. The Herdmans lay claim to the lead parts of the play, and the new director is left scrambling to convince the other children to remain and fill the cast. It's a recipe for disaster as rehearsals progress and outraged parents protest the inclusion of the Herdmans. After all, the Herdmans don't even know the Christmas story.
Certain it's going to be a disaster, everyone in town shows up at church for the performance and, lo and behold, the rough Herdman kids, with their poor background and outsider status, bring more sincerity and meaning to the annual pageant than ever was seen before. The meaning of Christmas, delivered in one hour.
IF YOU GO
Where: Seattle Public Theater at the Bathhouse, 7312 W. Green Lake Drive N., Seattle.
When: Dec. 9 through 24, varying times.
Cost: Adults $27, seniors (65 and over) $25, youth (25 and under) $15.
Contact: 206-524-1300; www.seattlepublictheater.org.
Erika Lee Bigelow is the “Going Places” editor for Seattle’s Child.
