The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a long lasting Local Christmas tradition, not just for the Louisville theater community, but for families as well. It follows the story of a town’s Christmas Pageant, which the Herdmans (a group of kids known for lying and stealing) hijack, completely altering the impact it has on all of the other townspeople. Personally, I find myself looking forward to it every holiday season.
Although the staging and set hardly ever change, there’s something so uniquely special about it every year, this year being no exception. Each actor always finds a way to make the role their own without straying too much from the textbook ‘Herdmans’ and ‘church kids.’
This year, Ralph (James Fitch), Imogene Herdman (Brianna Breckinridge), and Alice Wendleken (Addison Jones) were some of the child actors that stood out to me.
James Finch’s subtle acting style heavily complemented Ralph Herdman’s character development, especially in the pageant proper scene. His choices helped to convey his character’s inner thoughts and emotional depth, revealing Ralph Herdman to be more than just some “troubled kid that’s too far gone.”
Imogene, Ralph’s younger sister, mirrored this behavior especially in her most notable scene where she’s alone on stage, attempting to replicate a stained glass window picture of Mary tenderly holding the baby Jesus. Brianna’s emotional depth throughout this moment managed to bring mine, and surely many others, eyes to tears due to her raw choices and onstage vulnerability. I also applaud her projection and volume; although the venue is relatively small, the actors not having mics causes many younger actors’ words to be lost.
But what they lack in volume they make up for in power, as shown by Jayden Peele (Charlie Bradley), who acted like he was going to beat up Leroy Herdman (play by Lucas Sigman), and not the other way around. His unique choices brought in a new energy that helped highlight Charlie’s youth and playful energy, contrasting his sisters’ timid and careful characteristics.
Lastly, Adison Jones, swapped the traditional ‘goody goody two-shoes’ act for a more feisty Alice Wendleken. She gave the traditional backhanded looks and snarky remarks while also adding a newfound confidence, especially in the beginning where she showed more of a retaliation against Imogene Herdman’s attempts of intimidation. Of course her character eventually succumbed, but as shown by her choices, not without a fight.
I can’t wait to see this holiday classic again next year. Until then you can catch this production’s casts through December 21st at the Kentucky Center’s Bombard Theater in Louisville. If you need a boost of holiday spirit, you won’t want to miss it.
(Photo credit: Zach Burrell)
