With a rag-tag cast of 27, many of whom are neophyte actors, director Bre Gentry brings The Best Christmas Pageant Ever to the Millbrook stage; a pleasant addition to this year's holiday shows.
Last seen some years ago at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the premise is simple [though the resolution is far from it]. -- Mrs. Armstrong [Jennifer L'Ecuyer] has conducted a local Christmas Pageant in the same way for many years, but when an accident confines her to a wheelchair, "Mother" Bradley [Samantha Legg] hesitatingly takes the helm and does her best to make it "the best one ever". Despite her inexperience and the continued advice from Mrs. Armstrong, despite her husband's [Brad Porter] reluctance to help, and her children's whining [Lillie Kate Porter and Drew Baltzell], despite the criticism of social-conscious ladies, despite the fault-finding note taking of a jealous and spoiled Alice [Sophia Ducote], and despite the Pageant "takeover" by the Herdman hooligan kids who transform the traditional story with their own welfare background take on the Nativity...imagine the mayhem that happens on stage.
It runs about an hour, though Millbrook has added an unnecessary 15-minute intermission that interrupts the frenetic action that has to be re-ignited afterwards. It is hard to pick up the momentum.
Regardless, the cast are mostly endearing or comical or frightening depending on their roles, and the script does have an important message for the Christmas Season.
The rambunctious Herdman's [Kaden Blackburn, Cambrie Baltzell, Quinn Tuck, Adam Gaston, Scarlet Andrews, Violet Andrews] -- who don't go to church or even know the Bible story -- play the Holy Family, Shepherds, Wise Men and Angel with conviction and empathy, showing kindness to a refugee family by sharing what little they have with them [it's often the poor people who are the most generous]; so perhaps we shouldn't judge people harshly on first impressions: honest lessons we could all take to heart at any time of the year.
Merry Christmas,
