Holy Pageant within a pageant!
By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer
As
the holidays approach, various groups, theater companies, organizations and schools dust
off the fake trees, menorahs, fix light bulbs, hang decorations and sew costumes.
Christmas pageants in particular, which have been presented at churches
over the eons, usually include a young girl playing Mary clutching a doll, while a boy,
abashed to be escorting her up the church aisle, plays Joseph. The coveted roles are the
Three Wise Men, who get to sing that cool song and wear regal costumes. Of course, there
are the prerequisite baby angels, shepherds, and other hangers-on from the story of the
birth of Jesus taken from the Bible.
It came to pass that this year in its inaugural year of existence, the St.
Thomas Youth Group is attempting to put a spin on the above, by presenting The Best
Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson. It was adapted from her novel of the same
name.
Somehow I got roped into participating in it.
With all due graciousness, I am pleased to be a part of what is a
delightful and offbeat Christmas play. And that includes my first-ever play, of any kind,
at the age of 3 when I played Mary and left the doll on the manger by a mistake.
My part is the put-upon Grace Bradley, who reluctantly takes over the
chores of producing the Christmas pageant when the major-domo church lady, the radically
micro-managing Helen Armstrong (Page Klune) breaks her leg and is unable to direct the
show.
When a brood of 11 of the sorriest, dirtiest and most disciplined deprived
children in town show up the day of casting, well, let me tell you, it’s not what
Grace (or Helen) had in mind. But she is determined to make this less a fiasco than it
looks to be, and instead to transform it into the best Christmas pageant ever. Perhaps,
with lots of rehearsing and a wee bit o’ luck.
Comically, this pageant within a pageant within a pageant has taken on the
form of life imitating art.
"It’s hysterical, we’re going to be living the play,"
laughs Andrea Baker, director of the Youth Group and Children’s Ministries.
There’s a lot to surmount for director Anna Senechal and stalwart
producer Baker.
For instance, among the 85 cast members there are 70 children, 12 adults,
and two dogs (Willy and Pugsly). An angel choir, consisting of 16 children and led by Sue
Noel and Katherine Edison, will sing carols as part of the play.
Among the several adults in the play are parishioners Tim Eagen, Vicki
Reidel, Lowie Graves, Lynn Knudsen, Marion Conley, Jani Gray and Tracy Bay. Believe me, to
see these ladies, (apologies to Eagan, who fabulously plays mi sposo, Bob Bradley),
in action is worth the price of donation.
While the play is free, there is a suggested donation, as the money
generated will go to fund Youth Group activities, such as a trip to the Fort Hall Indian
Reservation. This recently established group is an inclusive organization for children
grades six through 12, regardless of religious affiliation.
The newly renovated and enlarged St. Thomas Church in Ketchum fits twice
as many folks than it used to, and the congregation is looking forward to showing it off
during the performances and the receptions to follow.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will be shown Friday, Dec. 8, at 7
p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 9, at 4 p.m.
Prior to each show Wood River High schooler Sarah Hess will be playing the
harp, and following both shows Ruthann Saphier will be selling and signing her parental
tip book and donating part of the proceeds to the Youth Group. And following Friday
night’s show, the Wood River Youth Orchestra will be playing under the direction of
Sue Mendelsohn. After Saturday’s show, Michael Bjerke, a student at The Community
School, will be playing guitar.
