The Reason For The Season

Tradition at the heart of ‘Best Christmas Pageant’

"There's never anything new about 'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,'" Harry Blundell says. "It's the same story about Mary and Joseph. It's the same baby Jesus."

But in spite of all the years the Arts Center of the Ozarks has presented the Christmas classic, everything about it is in fact new every single time.

FAQ

‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’

WHEN — 7:30 p.m. today & Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday

WHERE — Arts Center of the Ozarks, 214 S. Main St. in Springdale

COST — $9-$20

INFO — 751-5441 or acozarks.org

The magic, Blundell thinks, lies first in the story of Christ's birth, which is deeply meaningful to many people.

Second, he says, it's the 60 or so youngsters in the cast, who find such joy in their roles.

"People ask me, 'Why so many?' and I say, 'Why not?' It's not a difficult show for the kids to do," Blundell says, "and it just adds so much to the performance."

Third, he continues, it's the universal comedy that surrounds the tale of the "worst kids in the history of the world" and their invasion of an annual church Christmas pageant.

Written by Barbara Robinson in 1972, the story revolves around the Herdmans, a dirty, disreputable clan of uncouth hellions who "lie, steal, smoke cigars, swear, and hit little kids. So no one is prepared when this outlaw family invades church one Sunday and decides to take over the annual Christmas pageant."

"None of the Herdmans has ever heard the Christmas story before," Blundell relates. "Their interpretation of the tale -- the Wise Men are a bunch of dirty spies and Herod needs a good beating -- has a lot of people up in arms. But it will make this year's pageant the most unusual anyone has seen and, just possibly, the best one ever.

"Everybody has experienced some portion of this play," he says, "no matter how outrageous the story sounds."

And finally, he concludes, perhaps the best part about "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" is the tradition that the play has become in the lives of so many Northwest Arkansas families.

The Gates family of Bentonville is the perfect example.

Matthew was cast as Ollie eight years ago after taking summer classes at ACO.

"He is now 16 years old and has outgrown the roles," mother Debbie says. "However, he had the wonderful opportunity to play Charlie, Elmer, a shepherd and Max."

Madison, too young to even audition then, has since played an angel, Gladys, Alice and this year is Beth, the narrator of the story and the part many girls aspire to play.

Father Ernest Gates was drawn in and has played the Rev. Hopkins and is in his third year as Mr. Bradley.

And mother Debbie has been Mrs. Slocum, Mrs. McCarthy and is in her third year as Mrs. Bradley.

The kids enjoy spending time with friends at rehearsal, and the parents love to share the story, Debbie Gates says.

But most of all, "for us, as part of the cast, we love that we have been able to be part of this wonderful story as a family," she says. "We truly enjoy being involved in activities and ministries as a family. We have been so thankful to Harry for encouraging family participation. Our family likes the story, the hymns. ... It's become a tradition."

NAN What's Up on 12/12/2014

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