Photo Credit: Paul Ruffolo
Disasters sometimes bring out the best in us. In The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical, an untimely accident puts the unsuspecting Mrs. Bradley (Karen Estrada) in charge of directing the church’s Christmas pageant. Not only is she reluctant to take the thankless job, she is soon inundated by a family of unruly children who practically shut down the entire event.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever has become a popular tradition at First Stage. This is the ninth production of Barbara Robinson’s story that the theater company has presented since 1990, but it’s the first time the show has been done as a musical. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical opened last weekend at the Todd Wehr Theater at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.
The musical aspect of the show works well with the written text. Newly written songs, such as “Baskets for the Needy” and “On a Night Like This”, showcase the vocal talents of the adult performers as well as the students in the Holly Cast (which appeared at the early Saturday afternoon performance on opening weekend). Many of these catchy songs have a ’60s flavor.
Youngsters in the audience will be particularly delighted by some of the wackier tunes led by the “horrible” Herdman children, such as “Take My Lunch” and “Die, Herod, Die.” The finale, “Let There Be Joy,” includes more than 25 children and adults in the show’s cast. The show’s book and lyrics are by Jahnna Beecham, with music and lyrics by Malcolm Hillgartner. Jeff Schaetzke serves as music director for the 90-minute show.
Stay on top of the news of the day
Subscribe to our free, daily e-newsletter to get Milwaukee's latest local news, restaurants, music, arts and entertainment and events delivered right to your inbox every weekday, plus a bonus Week in Review email on Saturdays.
The Christmas pageant is nearly canceled after the Herdman children decide to show up for auditions. Since their threats keep other children from auditioning, they end up “winning” all the key parts, including Mary, Joseph and an Angel. Mrs. Bradley is beside herself at this development, but she soldiers on.
Credit costume designer Daryl Harris for bringing back memories of makeshift Christmas pageants from days gone by. Remember when the Three Wise Men wore long patchwork quilts, dish towels and headbands? And shepherds wore bathrobes while carrying hockey sticks for their staffs? The nativity scene reaches a humorous highlight when a pregnant Mary (Isabella Hansen as Imogene Herdman) arrives at the manger and promptly goes into labor. Her breathing coach is played by Liam Jeninga, as Joseph. Eventually, a fully-swaddled Jesus is born and laid in one of those baskets sent to needy families.
Some members of the cast and production team have ties to the very beginning versions in 1990 and 1992. Molly Rhode, who directs, was a First Stage student actor in the 1990 version. Karen Estrada, who now plays the main character of Mrs. Bradley, was a youngster in the 1992 version. In addition to Estrada, the other adult cast members include: Lachrisa Grandberry, Bree Beelow, Cynthia Cobb, Jonathan Gillard Daly, Laura Gordon and Chase Stoeger.
In the program notes, Rhode explains that the play’s long-running success can be attributed to its lessons in compassion, empathy, inclusion and the power of community. Estrada adds that her character extends love and care to those who may not be easy to love. Those sentiments are front and center during every scene in this delightful holiday show.
Through Dec. 26 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts’ Todd Wehr Theater, 929 N. Water St. For tickets, visit firststage.org or call 414-273-7206.
