The book was first translated into a play in 1982, and the Lebanon Theatre is staging it for the third time in its history during the next two weekends.
“It’s part of our (holiday) rotation,” said Kate Edington, the play’s director. “Last year, we did ‘Annie.’ The play is a pretty straight telling of the book. There’s not a lot of difference.”
The story takes place in a small town where everyone is very nice and pious, except for one family. The six Herdman children drink, smoke, steal, lie and hit other kids (and each other). One day, they wander into the town church because they heard snacks could be found there, only to discover the town is about to put on its annual Christmas pageant, which re-enacts the story of Christ’s birth. To the horror of everyone, the Herdmans wind up cast in all the important roles.
“They get cast by intimidating the other churchgoers into not raising their hands,” Edington said. “They decide they want to snazz it up. They think it’s a spy story. They want to kill Herod.”
But as rehearsals commence and continue all the way up to the actual production, the townspeople start to see not only the Herdmans but the Christmas story itself in a new way. For instance, the Herdmans are conspicuously poor (their parents are notably absent throughout), and they don’t understand the practical value of gifts like frankincense and myrrh.
“What we see is that the church families were so concerned about how to put on the play that they forgot why they were doing it,” Edington said. “The Herdmans are on welfare, and they see the Wise Men as being like the welfare people. So they bring their welfare ham for the show, because why you would give oils to a baby?”
Edington’s first experience with the story was the 1982 TV movie starring Loretta Swit. Edington read the book as an adult and had seen the play several times before directing it herself.
“Sometimes we forget what a miracle the Christmas story is,” she said. “You really see the wonder of it when you see it through the eyes of children who’ve never heard it before.”
How to go
What: “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”
When: Friday, Dec. 2, and Sunday, Dec. 4, and next Friday through Sunday, Dec. 9-11. Show times are 7:30 p.m. this Friday, 2 p.m. this Sunday, 7:30 p.m. next Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. next Sunday, Dec. 11.
Where: Lebanon Theatre Company, 10 S. Mechanic St., Lebanon
Cost: $15
More info: 513-228-0932 or www.ltcplays.com
About the Author