'Gayest Christmas Pageant Ever!' May Shock Thin-Skinned Crowd

LOS ANGELES TIMES
By Jamie Wetherbe, Special to the Los Angeles Times

The Gayest Christmas Pageant Ever! makes its West Coast debut at the Avery Schreiber Theatre in North Hollywood. Shown are Allyson Mendelbaum {Mary], Jen Mcclone [Angel], top, and Garrett Braddock [Joseph]. (Janice Allen)

CALIFORNIA - After a successful off-Broadway run, Alternative Theatre Company founder and playwright Joe Marshall's gay-themed Christmas comedy, "The Gayest Christmas Pageant Ever!" made its West Coast premiere Monday at North Hollywood's Avery Schreiber Theatre. And it features a veritable parade of stereotypes for the holidays. The show is egalitarian in its aim to offend all classes and creeds — think of it as staged episode of "South Park." "The underlying message is one of visibility, and those of us who are gay and lesbian struggle with that," says Jen McGlone, who butches up the Nativity as a lesbian angel in a bow tie and suspenders. "The hope is that some day [this play] won't be a big deal because it's gay. It will just be another Christmas pageant people will want to see because it's well-written and because it's funny." The Avery Schreiber Theatre, 11050 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood; Through Dec. 30; see website for showtimes; Price: $18; Info: (818) 766-9100, averyschreibertheatre.com. [link]