STAGE REVIEW : ‘Nativity’ Hasn’t Lost Heart : Yule: Five years later, Southeast Community Theatre’s production is more sophisticated but just as vibrant.

Five years ago, when director Floyd Gaffney debuted “Black Nativity” at the now-defunct Progressive Stage Company, the piece was extraordinary--in a raw and primitive way.

There was no set, not much staging or, indeed, anything in the way of production values. But at a time when everyone else in San Diego was producing “white” Christmases, Langston Hughes’ retelling of the birth of Christ through the music of black gospel singers was a refreshing and inspirational novelty. The singers, culled from churches, shook the rafters. And when word got out, there wasn’t enough standing room to meet the demand.

Today, several of San Diego’s various stages are presenting multicultural looks at the Christmas story, from the Old Globe’s bilingual “Pastorela ‘92: A Shepherds’ Tale” to the San Diego Repertory Theatre’s gospel musical version of “A Christmas Carol” in the Lyceum Stage.

But the Southeast Community Theatre’s fifth annual production of “Black Nativity”--currently being presented in the Lyceum Space, right next door to the Rep show--continues to hold its head high with the rest. That’s because Gaffney, who has again directed the piece, has brought sophistication to the work without losing its heart.

The show remains a vibrant, joyous and compelling celebration of music and faith.

The show now begins on Christmas Eve with a grandmother (Candace Ludlow-Trotter) in a rocker beside a Christmas tree, trying to teach her six grandchildren that there is more to Christmas than gifts. The action segues to the towering image of a church on Christmas Day. There, the songs and the sermon of the minister (Antonio T. J. Johnson) lead to a Nativity play, with the congregation changing from their Christmas Day finery to biblical robes to act out the story of the birth of Christ.

After the story is told, with LeGayle Gillespie as a lovely, struggling Mary and Donald (Dajahn) A. Blevins as the anxious, protective Joseph, the cast puts on the multicolored robes of their church to sing, celebrate and testify.

There are still some half-finished thoughts in this conception. The grandmother and the children never reappear in those roles after their initial scene; it would make sense to at least make them members of the congregation learning the lessons the minister is teaching.

But the show is transported by the music and augmented by the fervor of the dancing and acting. Deborah A. McClelland’s powerful, wide-ranging soprano explodes like a force of nature in “We Shall Behold Him.” Ludlow-Trotter brings depth to “Jesus Oh What a Wonderful Child.” Blevins plumbs the joy in “Wasn’t That a Mighty Day.” Roderic Jackson does a mellow “Do You Hear What I Hear,” and Rosalind Yvette Jackson sounds like warm honey in “Go Tell It on the Mountain.”

The musical direction by Patrick Bradley, who plays piano as part of a five-person band on one side of the stage, is at once strong and delicate, braced with nice percussive nuances. The choreography by Sandra Foster-King is spirited, with lovely balletic moments by dancer Briar Jenkins during songs that are otherwise static. Mariam Laubert’s costumes are colorful and packed with creative touches like the saucy curves of her Christmas hats. John Redman’s church setting--warmly lit by Pierre A. Clavel--is simple but expansive with two walls opening up like hands in supplication.

While the show is about deeply held beliefs, it is also about beautiful music sung with feeling. On either level, it is hard to imagine how this dynamic little show could fail to appeal to anyone.

“BLACK NATIVITY”

By Langston Hughes. Director is Floyd Gaffney. Music director is Patrick Bradley. Set by John Redman. Costumes by Mariam Laubert. Lighting by Pierre A. Clavel. Choreography by Sandra Foster-King. Stage manager is Calvin Manson. With Antonio (T. J.) Johnson, LeGayle Gillespie, Donald (Dajahn) A. Blevins, Robert Taylor Jr., Morris White, Roderic Jackson, Berrel Matthews, Regina V. Anderson, Dwane Brown, C. Anthony Coles, Ronald L. Edwards Jr., Esther Ruth Evans, Rosalind Yvette Jackson, Briar Jenkins, Deborah McClelland, Stephen Ledell Robb, Barbara La-Shanda Ross, Crystal Taylor, Candace Ludlow-Trotter, Monique White and Tori Marie Williams. At 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2:30 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through Dec. 20. Tickets are $12 general, $10 for seniors and military, $8 for students, $4 for children under 14. At the Lyceum Space, 79 Horton Plaza, San Diego. 235-8025.