The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson has been around since the early 1970s and has been performed by countless elementary, middle, and high schools, church groups and community theaters. The first stage production was by the Seattle Children's Theatre in 1982 and a TV version starring Loretta Swit followed in 1983. It portrays the six Herdman children and the mayhem that follows after they attend Sunday school for the first time in search of refreshments. They end up with the lead roles in the Christmas pageant even though they have no understanding of the Christmas Story.

When I headed to Lakewood Playhouse, I was so affected by the horrific event in Newtown, Conn. I wasn't prepared to laugh and I definitely wasn't in the Christmas spirit. I duly sat in my seat in the packed auditorium and took in the appropriately sparse set. The floor was painted green and red argyle and evoked images of holiday sweaters. The show opened up with Beth Bradley (Katherine Dunkelberger) narrating. The actors portraying the Bradley family were good and it was refreshing to see a blended family like many in society. 

Read Joann Varnell's full review of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever in the Weekly Volcano's Arts section.

LAKEWOOD PLAYHOUSE, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER, THROUGH DEC. 24, 8 P.M. FRIDAY-SATURDAY, 2 P.M. SUNDAY, $18-$24, 5729 LAKEWOOD TOWNE CENTER BLVD. SW, LAKEWOOD, 253.588.0042