Acting Company has 'Best Christmas Pageant Ever'

Every year during the holidays, churches across the country have their annual Christmas pageant.

The story of one such Christmas pageant is the premise of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," the latest production from The Acting Company in Yuba City.

The play begins Friday.

"This is a play that's perfect for this time of year," said the play's co-director, Brian Aronson. "It's a great show. There's humor, charm and it's touching."

What makes the pageant the story focuses on so special is how much goes wrong — and how much goes right. A church performs the same Christmas pageant every year. However, this year, the play's longtime director, Helen Armstrong (played by Kathleen Hansen), breaks her leg and is unable to direct the play.

Directing duties then fall on Grace Bradley (Cristina Louk), whose son, Charlie (Damien Stranix) and daughter, Beth (Mary Navarro), are performing in the play.

Unfortunately for her, the Herdman family, a group of street urchins, has recently joined the church, thinking they would get free refreshments by doing so. When they hear about the annual Christmas pageant, they decide to bully their way into the main roles.

"I directed (the play) at The Acting Company back in 2001 with my wife and I was itching to do it again," Aronson said. "It's based on a children's book from the 1980s, and (The Acting Company) was going to perform it every year, but we figured it was tapped out in 2002."

Enough time had passed since the last production of the show for Aronson to direct it again, he said.

Since the play is about a group of children, most of the cast is children — some as young as 5. "This is a good showcase for our local talent — some who have never been on stage before," Aronson said.

The cast includes Tad Crother as Ralph Herdman; Caitlin Mallory as Imogene Herdman, Aaron Hutton as Leroy Herdman, Daniel Apsley as Claude Herdman, Elias Saracco as Ollie Herdman and Darien Torrison as Gladys Herdman.

"(The play) is so much fun and is perfect for adults and children alike," Aronson said.

"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever"

Times: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays; runs to Dec. 21

Where: The Acting Company, 815 B St., Yuba City

Tickets: $15. Call 751-1100.