You won’t want to miss “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”, written by Barbara Robinson, being presented next weekend by the North Frontenac Little Theatre.

If you were ever in a Christmas pageant as a child, forced to wear your father's bathrobe as a shepherd, stood around with angel wings and a halo, or were the lucky ones who got to play Mary and Joseph, you'll enjoy this play. If you directed a Sunday school pageant, taught Sunday school or worked with children, you'll want to see this play. People of all ages who like to laugh will want to see this play and some more sensitive types may even find themselves shedding a tear near the end. This delightful story takes a comical yet poignant look at a church congregation putting on what is anything but a typical pageant!

Perennial pageant director Mrs. Armstrong breaks her leg and someone needs to take over the pageant this year. Reluctantly giving in to the pressures of the church ladies, young mother and wife Grace Bradley agrees to take the pageant on. Grace (played by Janet Revell of Verona) is not aware that Mrs. Armstrong (Martina Field) does not intend to relinquish control of the casting, nor is she aware of, let alone ready for, the infamous HERDMAN FAMILY!

The Herdman children are a street-wise family of six young thugs who apparently have no parents or curfew. They are led by 12-year-old, cigar smoking Imogene, (Kelsea Babcock). When they learn that there is free food and drinks at Sunday school, Imogene and her siblings take over the pageant. The Herdman boys think that a hit should be put out on King Herod and wonder why they were going to pay their taxes in a hotel anyway!

Grace Bradley sets out on a mission, with husband Bob (Barry Harding), not only to teach the Herdmans the story of Christmas, but allow for the whole congregation to revisit the true meaning of the story and by doing so. make this "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!" You'll agree that it is when young Gladys Herdman (Violet Skuce) shoves her fist at you and bellows out, "Hey you, a child was born, now git in there and see him!"

The cast of over 36 children and 10 adults comes from Verona to MacDonalds Corners, Sharbot Lake to Clarendon and Arden. It includes a gossipy group of church ladies played by Sandy Robertson, Angela Sproule, Cathy Ryan and Samantha Lusk; the Reverend Hopkins by Leslie Pickard; and the Herdman boys by Cody Steeves, Devon Clarke and Johnny Skuce.

Strong performances come from Dayna Stone as Alice, Joelle Parr as Beth Bradley, Cody Matson playing Charlie Bradley and Sydney Teal as Maxine. The whole show is narrated by Kaitlyn Hannah. There are children in a choir, angels and even a sheep!

Tickets are selling fast, so don't miss what will be an enjoyable start to this Christmas season.

The show runs December 3 through 6 at Sharbot Lake High School. Check out our season at nflt.ca.

As rehearsals for NFLT’s production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” head into their final weeks, “things are coming together beautifully,” according to stage manager Karin Reynold.  

The six shepherds are experimenting with their crooks, the boy playing the lamb has learned to go “b-aa” loudly, and the baby angels are practicing Christmas carols.

White sheets and bathrobes are being transformed into costumes for angels, shepherds and wise men by a hard-working backstage crew. At first glance, these could be rehearsals for any Christmas pageant from the past hundred years.

But this Christmas Pageant, adapted from a beloved children’s book by Barbara Robinson, has a twist or two. For instance, one of the wise men is carrying an unusual gift.

In addition, many of the children acting in the pageant are encouraged by director Sarah Hale to be on their worst behaviour! It is hoped that by performance time they won’t forget how to be bad, because after all, they are very good kids in real life. They’ve worked hard to learn their lines and movements on and off the stage. It’s a big commitment of time and energy, especially this year when so many families have been down with colds and flu. Just in case - important characters, from Mary and Joseph to little Gladys Herdman, the terror of the town, have understudies. For many young actors, that means learning two parts.

One thing is certain; if “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” is as lively as the rehearsals, it’s a treat not to be missed on the first weekend in December, the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th!

According to Producer Craig Godfrey, the upcoming production by North Frontenac Little Theatre is actually a play based on the popular short story by Barbara Robinson.

The comedy, which has a play within the play, follows the small town church group as they try to prepare for their Christmas Pageant.

When the perennial director of the local pageant breaks her leg, the church ladies panic to save the pageant. They find a willing director in one of the moms, Grace Bradley. Grace thinks it should be a nice pleasant experience but she didn’t count on two problems.

Mrs. Armstrong still wants to control everything from her hospital bed, driving Grace mad with phone calls, but that is the least of her problems.

Grace had never heard of “The Herdmans”. When word gets out that there’s free food and drinks at Sunday school rehearsals, the six, apparently parentless hooligans show up and take over the auditions.

Grace’s daughter Beth describes the Herdman Kids as a wild pack. She also says, “The Herdmans tore through the local school like those South American fish that tear the flesh of your bones.”

For a while chaos reins, but Grace sets her mind to make this year’s pageant “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”!

With 10 adults and 20 children and teens, you won’t want to miss a moment of the fun. There really is a little pageant at the end!

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will run the weekend of December 3 through 6th in Sharbot Lake High School’s auditorium.