The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
A production for two actors and five musicians, based on the play by Barbara Robinson
Two things are inevitable: the nativity play at Christmas, and a family like the Herdmans. Anyone who hasn’t met the Herdmans yet should think himself lucky, since the five children use their fists to “discuss”, they move up automatically every year at school (since no teacher wants to have them twice, or have two of them in the same class), and the church has even been known to go up in flames. But when the nativity play and the Herdmans come together, something happens that you wouldn’t even dream about: the nativity play turns into a real, deeply felt religious play.
The production
If the Bremer Kaffeehaus-Orchester then joins forces with the Theater Kontra-Punkt, what happens is not completely unexpected - at least not for those familiar with the Jinxed Concert - but is at least unusual. The story that Barbara Robinson tells in words in her own inimitable way is presented in this new production with instruments and music, language and movement. All 17 parts are shared between seven performers, who are brought to life with improvised music, familiar and unfamiliar Christmas carols and the capabilities of the two actors.
And when the Herdmans come, the public is, of course, not left unscathed. It has to get involved, making something extraordinary from a normal nativity play.