Amherst Players revamp Nativity play
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter
In its 60th season, the Amherst Players will bring a new kind of Nativity play to the public.

Alicia Dell'Aria plays Mary in the Amherst Players' production of "The Butterfingers Angel, Mary & Joseph, Herod the Nut & the Slaughter of 12 Hit Carols in a Pear Tree" and is surrounded by Donkey (Elena Ciotta, 10), Child #2 (Catherine Rogers, 9), Sheep (Emily Dischinger, 9) and Cow (Noel O'Day, 14). Photo by John Rusac.Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

"The Butterfingers Angel, Mary & Joseph, Herod the Nut & the Slaughter of 12 Hit Carols in a Pear Tree," by William Gibson, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday Dec. 6-8 with a 1:30 p.m. performance on Saturday at the Harlem Road Community Center, 4255 Harlem Road, Amherst.

"I think it was written specifically for nonprofit companies to debunk the idea that theater has to be expensive," said director Debra Cole. "It uses a prop table on stage and double casting."

The story follows Mary and Joseph on their journey, which ultimately leads to the birth of Jesus Christ.

"It has this wonderful, dark humorous tale," Cole said. "But there's always this evil lurking in the shadows."

According to Cole, the show will be enjoyable for all ages with the familiar childhood story of the Nativity combined with adult humor.

"It's a delightful story with adult overtones," said Cole, who found that choosing the play was quite a task.

"I went through a lot of plays for the 60th season," he said. "I was looking for things that haven't been done much in Western New York."

After "Butterfingers Angel," the Players will round out the season with a revival of last year's "Dark of the Moon" and the family production, "Romeo and Winnifred."

With "Butterfingers Angel," Cole and the other Amherst Players are looking to keep community theater in the limelight by involving young people in the production of the plays as well as producing shows that will be of interest to them.

"Professional theater stands on the shoulders of community theater, so we have to invite the young people to the theater," she said. "Plus, anytime you can get young kids in donkey or sheep costumes, it's great."

Tickets for the show are $10 general admission, $8 for students and seniors, and $5 for children 12 and younger.

For more information, call 631-7200.