'Pageant' serves audience with Christmas spirit
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

Senior Kelsey Mogensen and freshman Jordan Steward rehearse as mother and son for the Sweet Home High School production of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Photo by John Rusac Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Art will imitate life (or vice versa) this weekend as Sweet Home High School's Drama Club presents Barbara Robinson's "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever."

The production is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2 at the high school, 1901 Sweet Home Road.

"We teach the book in the elementary schools," said Lona LaChiusa, Drama Club adviser and director.

This year's production will be a family friendly show, as was last year's - a presentation of "Charlotte's Web."

This year, however, the students will perform for pupils of the Sweet Home elementary schools in a school-time performance.

"It gives the students a chance to perform to a packed house," LaChiusa said.

But the performance for elementary pupils may serve another purpose.

"We're trying to get families in the district to come out (and see the play)," LaChiusa noted. Her drama class was cut from the curriculum this year because of a lack of students.

That has not stopped an interest in the club, however. While boasting several student actors, backstage and production crews round out the club.

"This is the first time we've had student costume, light and sound designers," LaChiusa said. "Everything except the set."

Though the play is based on a children's book, the characters don't lack depth, according to the students who are playing them.

"There are a lot of levels," said junior Andrea Finley, who plays Mrs. Armstrong, the controlling play director who turns the production over to Grace Bradley after being put in traction after an injury.

"The part is only written to a certain point, so a lot of it is me ad libbing," she continued. "Every time it's different, so if you catch it, you catch it. If you don't, you don't."

Senior Kelsey Mogensen plays Grace and noted the challenge for her was trying to play a character older than she is.

"The mannerisms are very different for me," she said, noting that she's been studying some of the mother figures in her life to make her role more believable.

But for the students, the message of Christmas is the best reason to see the play.

"It's meant to be seen by a family audience," Finley said. "It's the traditional thought of putting on a pageant, but it ends up being better than ever."

"Even the bad kids in the play are touched by the spirit of Christmas," Mogensen said of some of the characters. "It changes their lives, and it's nice to think of that.

Senior Dan Sigurdson, who plays Mr. Bradley to Mogensen's Grace, agreed with his co-stars.

"Initially, when I tried out, I thought the appeal would be limited," he said. "But it has a lot of appeal for families, high schoolers and little kids, too."

Tickets for the show are $4 presale and $6 at the door prior to performances. Presale tickets may be ordered by calling 250-1244 or by e-mailing kmanzella@shs.k12.ny.us.