‘Pageant’ a story of redemption
COHOES, N.Y. » Redemption is a popular theme in many Christmas stories. One only has to think of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” to understand the truth of that statement.
However, Park Playhouse is doing a show that presents a totally different take on redemption. Through Sunday, at the Cohoes Music Hall, they are offering a musical version of the popular children’s book, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” The question in the story is who is redeemed - the Herdman children, or the community?
Directing the show for Park Playhouse is their Associate Artistic Director Ashley-Simone Kirchner. Kirch- ner is also the organization’s Director of Education, which is ideal for this show as the entire cast is made up of students, who take intensive theater classes with the company.
Kirchner describes the show as being about six kids who she describes as hooligans and delinquents. She says, “They lie, steal, swear and set fires. They are a scourge in the community.” Oddly, she adds, “But they’re basically good kids. They just need someone to take them under their wing.”
That someone is a teacher, Grace Bradley, who is directing the school’s Christmas pageant for the first time. She casts the incorrigible six and predictably hijinks become the norm and the Herdmans disrupt almost everything. That means offering their own take on the Christmas story, including scared shepherds and a strange interpretation of the three Wise Men.
However, as they get swept-up in the Christmas story, they become sensitized. Kirchner started to chuckle as she recalls the song “Die Herod Die,” which is their reaction to learning the king killed all the babies in an effort to find the baby Jesus. If you understand heartwarming, it’s not a spoiler alert to reveal that almost everyone in the community becomes fond of the kids.
Is it the Herdman kids who are redeemed, or does the community find redemption by embracing people they thought were no good?
Whatever side you take, it becomes thoughtful fun. As Kirchner says, “The songs and dances provide great entertainment, and throughout, the show has a warm holiday feel about it. Audiences will love it.”
After a slight pause, she adds, “What I love about the story is it has a message that’s appropriate for our day. It says ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover, and urges us to realize that people act the way they do for a reason. It’s important to know that reason before judging someone.”
Not only is the show heartwarming, it’s also enormous. There are 32 students in the cast and 19 are what she calls “lead roles in which the character has a name.” However, she says the num- bers will not be a hindrance. “These are great kids, who are uniquely mature. They have been well-trained in the art of theater and are experienced performers.”
She then makes the bold statement, “I think this show will be equal to any professional production.”