OREM — The Best Christmas Pageant Ever certainly gives itself a lot to live up to, but the SCERA Center for the Arts performance of this delightful musical about unexpected grace more than qualifies for its “Best Ever” title. Adapted from the play by Barbara Robinson, the musical is written by playwright Jahnna Beecham and lyricist Malcolm Hillgartner. Their lyrics add depth to an already poignant story. This delightful show has gathered even more support since it received a movie adaptation last year.
The story revolves around the Herdmans, who embody every naughty child and bad egg you can think of, rolled into one chaotic family. The aptly named “Horrible Herdmans” enact a hostile takeover of the local church Christmas pageant, claiming all the best parts for themselves. As the overwhelmed director Grace Bradley faces pressure to send the kids packing, she finds within the Herdman’s irreverent behavior lies a deeper understanding of the biblical Christmas story and what it means to show grace.
Photo by Rachael Gibson | Courtesy SCERA
Natalie Merrill brings great stage presence to the role of Grace while not compromising the emotional depth of her character. Her vocal abilities are shown during “Maybe” where she is perfectly in sync with her partner Ryan Harper who played Grace’s husband Rob. Merrill portrays a genuine and heartwarming family dynamic with her onstage children, Zoe Morris and Lewis Anderson as Beth and Charlie Bradley, respectively. In fact, their connection feels so genuine that one might begin to wonder what is scripted and what is improv.
This show is full of parts for younger children, and these young actors do a phenomenal job for their ages. Morris displays her skills, adding energy to the role of Beth while showcasing the quality of her diction and choreography. Her co-star Virginia Seaver plays Alice with gusto, adding stage business and ticks, such as a dramatic hair sweep, that really brings the character to life.
Scout Olenik as Gladys Herdman stands out amongst the younger cast members. Her song “Die Herod Die” brought tears of laughter to the audience. Scout hits all the comedic beats of her role, performing with glee and clear musical talent. During the song, children lift each other up and carry each other around the stage, yet Scout keeps herself as the focal point of what can only be described as glorious chaos. She is clearly proud of herself, and she has every right to be. Her range was apparent, moving from hilariously unhinged in “Die Herod Die” to surprisingly soulful during “The Best Gift of All.” Her voice blends beautifully with Summer Olenik who plays older sister Imogene Herdman. Both of the Oleniks demonstrate a haunting quality to their singing as well as a slight twang, but it is their raw vocal talent that allows the meaning behind the lyrics to shine.
A nod must be given to Angela Bradford for her portrayal of Helen. Angela’s over-the-top acting, large expressions, and high-strung tone help her turn Helen into a caricature of an overbearing church leader we’ve all encountered. Her dramatic acting creates a nice foil for the more realistic roles.
Photo by Rachael Gibson | Courtesy SCERA
Choreographer Robbie Cromwell makes the dance movements large and expressive. With a group of quite young performers, they dance admirably despite not always being in sync with one another. The choreography feels like a nice touch to enhance the music, rather than being the main event itself.
Director Kurt Elison brings out the comedic element of the show. The physicality and timing of several moments during the show caused the audience to howl with laughter. One of the best bits was when the wise men got stage fright and simply would not move until they were urged forward by Rob.
The set design by Michael Carrasco quickly transported the audience into a “Perfect Little Town” of the 1970s. The chapel featured several stained-glass windows that were lit as if the sun was coming through them. The painted wood grain, the kitschy Christmas decor, and those elegant stained-glass windows brought the feeling of the 1970s in a way that was pleasant to view throughout the show.
Lighting designer Chase Elison went above and beyond tailoring the lighting to the show. Not only did he keep the lighting appropriate to the mood of each scene, but he performed several special lighting effects, such as projecting “Shazam!” and “Smash!” onto the wall during “Die Herod Die” when the cast sang those same words. Elison also switches between spotlights for the individuals during “Problem,” and then turns the stage blue and red alternatively when each side shouted that the pageant would be the “best” or the “worst.”
Photo by Rachael Gibson | Courtesy SCERA
Providing cohesive costumes for such a large group is always a challenge, and one that costume designer Deborah Bowman tackles well. Each costume is clearly unique to that actor, creating the feeling of an authentic small town. However, the historical accuracy of each of those costumes varies by person. Yet, even when the individual costume don’t reflect the time period accurately, they all do a good job of representing the values of the characters. This is seen with some of the church women’s dresses being more of a modest modern style, but still reflecting the church women’s reserved worldview and strict morals.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever was a delightful experience. It is abundantly apparent that the entire cast loves the show. Each individual puts in so much effort, from unique stage business to belting out the songs. As they poured their hearts into the final number, “Let There Be Joy,” that is exactly what the audience felt. For anyone in the mood to remember the love that Christmastime brings, go see The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the SCERA.
