Play highlights the true meaning of Christmas

PLAINS – As the lights dimmed and music filled the air, the first ever Clark Fork Valley Homeschool Co-op play began.

To kick off the night the co-op choir warmed the crowd singing four songs including Silent Night and What Child is This. Darian Cremer dressed as Mary, Casey Johnston dressed as Joseph, while Noah and Jericho Cremer, Mercedes Anderson and Quinn Hutchings completed the choir.

As the music came to an end, the performance came to life. Fourteen students hit the stage in the performance of Christmas comes to Lickety-split. Based in a small western town, the pace of life was slow.

The crimeless town began to see a spike in thefts and Sheriff Buck Ridges (played by Jubal Ryan) was tasked at catching the criminals. After a red sock, scarf, and pie went missing among other items, the town discovered the Corn Puddin’ gang was at it again – causing ruckus and stealing goods.

The gang had a good intent at heart. They wanted to provide their mother, Ma Puddin (played by Rebekah Trawick), with good, ole fashioned Christmas presents. Lacking money and brains, the clan went around robbing the town in an effort to get their mother exactly what she wanted.

Coming up short, the gang conspired with their mother to steal a few more items to bring Christmas into full swing. On their list was ham, eggnog and a fruitcake – all items easily found in town.

However, the town had a plan of their own and had set up some eggnog as bait in hopes of catching the gang and hopefully bringing their string of theft to a halt.

As the Corn Puddin’ gang advanced on the eggnog, Hershal Butterfield (played by Luke Lile) lassoed the gang, stopping them in their tracks. The town people appeared one by one confronting the gang and demanding the return of their belongings.

While the list of demands grew, Miss Ruby Mae (played by Taralee Ryan) had an epiphany – she decided to gift the gang with a ham, after all the spirit of Christmas had come down upon her.

The town learned the gang had no idea where the origin of Christmas began and explained the story of baby Jesus’ birth. After sharing their faith, the Corn Puddin’ gang realized that Christmas was more than just gifts.

After the townspeople forgave the gang, they continued on to celebrate Christmas together – forgetting about the crimes against them, they came together in celebration ending the play on a high note. The kids came together and sang a multitude of songs to bring the play to a close.

The kids of the homeschool co-op only had six short weeks to prepare for the performance after they decided to add a drama class into their electives. Veteran director Ruth Winkler stepped up to the opportunity and helped the kids put together their Christmas play.

“It’s been a lot of fun. Some of these kids have never been in a play before and they keep getting better and better every day,” said Winkler.

The kids came together for one last practice right before the play and Winkler admitted there were some mistakes that needed to be worked out.

“There were a few mess ups so hopefully they’ll iron them out,” said Winkler.

The play ran smoothly and although everything did not go exactly according to plan, the actors quickly recovered and continued with the play – wowing the packed house.