River Company open auditions for the classic story “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” will be held at Skidompha Library in Damariscotta on Friday, Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 29 at 2 p.m.
Starring roles are available for four adults and 12 children, with hilarious cameo roles for other adults, a children’s angel choir, and even a spot for “baby angels” that rehearse only once. Plans are afoot to use technology to add some special touches. This will make it possible for some actresses to be filmed and their parts incorporated into the play.
The Narrator, a 10- to 12-year-old girl, holds the story together as the antics of the adults and children around her unfold. This part requires an actress capable of appearing calm in the middle of what seems to be confusion. She is the conscience of both the “good” adults of the community who will confront their prejudices and the children who learn that kindness and love come in all kinds of packages.
Laughs will abound in this play version of the bestselling Christmas classic by Barbara Robinson. “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” follows the outrageous shenanigans of the Herdman siblings, or “the worst kids in the history of the world.” The siblings take over the annual Christmas pageant in a hilarious-yet-heartwarming tale involving the Three Wise Men, a ham, scared shepherds, and six rowdy kids. When the Herdmans show up at church for the free snacks and suddenly take over the Christmas pageant, the other kids are shocked and church ladies get their knickers in a knot. But Christmas magic is all around and the Herdmans, who have never heard the Christmas story before, start to reimagine it in their own way.
The lessons of the “good” kids versus the “terrible” Herdman children will resonate with audiences everywhere as love, understanding, and the true meaning of Christmas become clear to everyone.
The shows, which will take place the last weekend of November and the first weekend in December, will benefit local organizations that provide food to students for weekends and over vacations.
The River Company production will be directed by Ellie Busby and produced by Allison Eddyblouin. Volunteers are welcome to assist in many aspects of production. For more information, contact the director at eleanorcadebusby@hotmail.com or the producer at edblouin1021@yahoo.com.
