Don’t Miss The best Christmas Pageant Ever

Craig Godfrey, Producer | Nov 26, 2009

You won’t want to miss “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”, written by Barbara Robinson, being presented next weekend by the North Frontenac Little Theatre.

If you were ever in a Christmas pageant as a child, forced to wear your father's bathrobe as a shepherd, stood around with angel wings and a halo, or were the lucky ones who got to play Mary and Joseph, you'll enjoy this play. If you directed a Sunday school pageant, taught Sunday school or worked with children, you'll want to see this play. People of all ages who like to laugh will want to see this play and some more sensitive types may even find themselves shedding a tear near the end. This delightful story takes a comical yet poignant look at a church congregation putting on what is anything but a typical pageant!

Perennial pageant director Mrs. Armstrong breaks her leg and someone needs to take over the pageant this year. Reluctantly giving in to the pressures of the church ladies, young mother and wife Grace Bradley agrees to take the pageant on. Grace (played by Janet Revell of Verona) is not aware that Mrs. Armstrong (Martina Field) does not intend to relinquish control of the casting, nor is she aware of, let alone ready for, the infamous HERDMAN FAMILY!

The Herdman children are a street-wise family of six young thugs who apparently have no parents or curfew. They are led by 12-year-old, cigar smoking Imogene, (Kelsea Babcock). When they learn that there is free food and drinks at Sunday school, Imogene and her siblings take over the pageant. The Herdman boys think that a hit should be put out on King Herod and wonder why they were going to pay their taxes in a hotel anyway!

Grace Bradley sets out on a mission, with husband Bob (Barry Harding), not only to teach the Herdmans the story of Christmas, but allow for the whole congregation to revisit the true meaning of the story and by doing so. make this "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!" You'll agree that it is when young Gladys Herdman (Violet Skuce) shoves her fist at you and bellows out, "Hey you, a child was born, now git in there and see him!"

The cast of over 36 children and 10 adults comes from Verona to MacDonalds Corners, Sharbot Lake to Clarendon and Arden. It includes a gossipy group of church ladies played by Sandy Robertson, Angela Sproule, Cathy Ryan and Samantha Lusk; the Reverend Hopkins by Leslie Pickard; and the Herdman boys by Cody Steeves, Devon Clarke and Johnny Skuce.

Strong performances come from Dayna Stone as Alice, Joelle Parr as Beth Bradley, Cody Matson playing Charlie Bradley and Sydney Teal as Maxine. The whole show is narrated by Kaitlyn Hannah. There are children in a choir, angels and even a sheep!

Tickets are selling fast, so don't miss what will be an enjoyable start to this Christmas season.

The show runs December 3 through 6 at Sharbot Lake High School. Check out our season at nflt.ca.