A colorful play about miscreant juveniles
A Christmas production like no other is coming to The Raven Performing Arts Theater. A herd of six delinquent kids – the notorious Herdmans – roam around the neighborhood stealing, smoking, drinking booze, hitting small children and delving as far into mischief as possible. The siblings discover the church serves free snacks. The Herdmans infiltrate the church for the free goodies and are then roped into participating in the church’s annual Christmas pageant – basically the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus. They have never read a page of the Bible, and are mortified to learn that Herod wanted to kill baby Jesus. They suggest (unsuccessfully) altering the title of the pageant to “Revenge at Bethlehem,” and change the entire pageant while they are at it.
Director Steven David Martin wanted to find something off the beaten holiday path, and he did just that. The short play, which runs about an hour, features mostly younger actors.
“This play has a nice balance of humor and heart,” Martin said. “Bring the kids, the grandkids, the grandparents; pretty much everyone will enjoy the show.”
Nine-year old Windsor resident Theo Marvin is in the play. Marvin acts the part of Hobie Clark, a boy who plays a shepherd in the pageant, and is best friends with another boy, Charlie, who plays a shepherd. Marvin also sings Christmas carols in the pageant.
Marvin said “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” is an ensemble play, meaning that there isn’t one main role, and the performers each have around the same amount of importance.
Marvin said people should come “Probably because it’s a nice story. It’s realistic.”
Fourteen-year-old Windsor resident Haley Hollis is also in the play.
She said the play is about how a reckless family comes to be in a Christmas pageant and everyone thinks it’s going to be a mess.
Hollis plays the part of Alice Wendlekin, a gossip who likes to discuss the Herdmans.
“People should come because it’s a really fun Christmas play and really enjoyable. It’s funny too. It has a twist on Christmas to it,” Hollis said. “It’s a really fun Christmas show for the family.”
Hollis said rehearsals, which began in October, have been fun.
“I really like the energy of the kids and all their personalities they bring to the story, Steven [David Martin] is really funny too,” she said.
It isn’t just Windsor actors participating in the play.
“I thought it was interesting that this theater is drawing from such a wide area. There are kids from Ukiah and Sebastopol,” said Hollis’ mother, Kelcey Hollis.
The play is based on the classic book written by Barbara Robinson in 1971. Robinson also wrote “The Best Halloween Ever” and “The Best School Year Ever.”
In the spirit of the season, the Raven will have a food collection barrel for Redwood Empire Food Bank in the lobby, and attendees are invited to bring a non-perishable food item to donate when coming to the show.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will run from Dec. 5 to 21. Show dates for the play are Dec. 5, 6, 7 (2 p.m.), 11, 12, 13, 14 (2 p.m.), 18, 19, 20, 21 (2 p.m.).
Start time is at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
All showings are at the Raven Performing Arts Theater, 195 Windsor River Road. General admission is $20, and $10 for students with IDs.
