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By Rose Hooper
The Herdmans are the worst kids in the whole history of the world.
They lied, stole, smoked cigars (even the girls), talked dirty,
cussed their teachers and set fire to Fred Shoemaker's tool house.
So who would want to spend Christmas with them? You would.
You will be delighted to watch how the community interacts with
them on stage this holiday during performances of The Best Christmas
Pageant Ever.
Maris
Ridenour as Gladys, left, and Cadence Railsback as Imogene play
members of the Herdman family during The Best Christmas Pageant
Ever. - Herald photo by Rose Hooper
Presented by the Chatterbox Players, performances
will be Thursday and Friday, Dec. 11 and 12, at 7 p.m. and Saturday,
Dec. 13, at 3 p.m. in the old Courthouse. Tickets will be on sale
at the door before each performance.
Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children.
Assuming the roles of the Herdman family on stage are Guy Muchmore,
Alee Shurina, Caleb Parham, Alyssa Walawender, Cadence Railsback
and Maris Ridenour.
Madeline
Seagle, left, and Courtney Clapper discuss how they plan to deal
with the dreaded Herdmen family this Christmas during The Best
Christmas Pageant Ever, which will be performed Thursday and Friday,
Dec. 11 and 12, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 13, at 3 p.m. in
the old Courthouse. - Herald photo by Rose Hooper
One of the lines of the upcoming production is,
"There are no small parts, just small actors."
The members of the cast - all children - are considered puzzle
pieces, according to directors Fitzallen Eldridge and Penny Graham.
"They are taught that to get the full effect of the whole
show they must use their talents and abilities to be their part
of the whole picture," said Graham.
The responsibilities of the children in the play are to learn
lines, show up for rehearsals and to take care of each other,
whether on or off stage. If someone has trouble on stage, other
cast members learn to carry that person through. The actors learn
ways to help themselves through difficult times without the audience
knowing.
Children of all ages are welcome.
"Children need to learn to be part of a good audience,"
said Graham. "A young audience must learn to laugh at the
right times, clap at the right times and to be quiet at the right
times. These responses are mastered by becoming active participants
in a program especially for children by children."
When the late Charlie Stephens got a group of children together
to do a play, Dandelion, in 1982, he left a legacy for childrens'
theater in Western North Carolina. It was the beginning of Chatterbox
Childrens' Theater which is now - 21 years later - working with
a second generation of children.
"Every child who auditions is given a part in the show,"
said Graham. "For some, just a walk-on is all that is needed.
For others, memorizing large amounts of dialogue is just what
is on their minds.
"Some children want to work behind the scenes in the technical
aspects, such as lighting, sound or stage directing. Each child
appears with his own vision of what will make this a perfect experience.
The challenge of the directors is to make this visionary idea
a reality for each child, while providing the audience with a
wonderful performance."
Kudzu Players acts as the nurturing source for the Chatterbox
Players.
Others involved in the Best Christmas Pageant Ever are Courtney
Clapper, Paul Hammer, Molly Gehring, Taylor Rodes, Elizabeth Hammer,
Mandy Dean, Amanda Bowman, Cori Atten, Tessa Rodes, Chelsea White,
Melanie Broom, Quintin Norris, Aidan Waldrum, Abigail Seagle,
Gabi Shurina, Autumn Scherman, Taylor Stack, Bryan McManus, Olivia
Muchmore, Eric Ridenour, Jackson Ridenour, Meredith Stack, Lia
Waldrum, Ada Graham and Mari Shurina.
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