STAGE REVIEW : ‘Pastorela ‘92’--Fun for the Kids

At the conclusion of every performance of “Pastorela ‘92: A Shepherds’ Play” at the Old Naval Hospital Chapel, the children are invited outside to break a pinata.

This ritual says something very important about this second annual production by the Old Globe Theatre in association with Teatro Mascara Magica: Children are welcome. The ideal age for “Pastorela ‘92” is the age at which you still find “The Three Stooges” funny. Director William Virchis heightens the stooge-like slapstick in Raul Moncada’s high-spirited, contemporary adaptation of the traditional pastorela.

The 75-minute, intermissionless production tells the story of Lucifer (Anasa Briggs-Graves) and assistants Satan (Ruben D. Padilla) and Moloch (Patrick A. Garcia), who try to keep the shepherds from reaching the manger on Christmas Day to bear witness to the birth of Christ.

Lucifer, Satan and Moloch, all expertly played, are essentially Moe, Larry and Curly, pushing, poking, tumbling and glowering. But their schemes do radiate a certain Saturday Night Live savvy as they try to sidetrack the shepherds by creating the illusion of Las Vegas, dressing up as Michael Jackson (with sequined glove), Madonna (with cones over the breasts) and Tina Turner (with Lucifer’s red tail peeking out below the short, glittery dress).

All the lines are delivered in Dr. Seuss-like singsong rhyme. Kids in Wednesday night’s audience loved it.

For the adults, watching the devils scheme and succeed gets a bit monotonous--as they are foiled repeatedly by the intervention of Archangel Michael (Carol Davis).

One of the inevitable problems stems from the fact that the devil here--as in Milton’s “Paradise Lost”--gets all the good lines. Yes, yes, you know you’re supposed to be rooting for the good guys, but the bad guys are just so much more fun!

The freshness of the piece comes from its bilingual nature. While the text is mostly in English, all the Christmas carols are sung in Spanish and are genuinely moving, particularly when members of the audience join in--either from memory or by following the lyrics printed in their programs.

A lively four-man band on a balcony keeps a strong beat going, punctuating the action when the angels and devils start slugging it out with music from the “Batman” television show.

The group singing under the musical direction of Carlos A. Mendoza is consistently strong. But the stand-out soloist is Melissa Smith, who plays the Star of Bethlehem in a flowing white gown and a halo bedecked with silver streamers. She has a lovely voice and does beautifully by “Los Reyes De Oriente” (better known in the United States as “We Three Kings”) and “Dime, Nino” (“Tell Me, Child”).

Adam Westmoreland Corey as the young shepherd boy, Lucindo, creates a magical musical moment, shooing the devils away by singing a sweet rendition of “Hoy A La Tierra” (“Angels We Have Heard on High”).

John Iacovelli’s simple set design makes the most of the Old Naval Hospital Chapel, putting a revolving stage at the altar for the heavenly happenings, a curtain at the other end for hell and a round stage in the middle for most of the action. Homespun-looking costumes coordinated by Dione Lebhar suit the shepherds, while the devils and the angels flaunt their more elaborate, swiftly changing costumes for their schemes and counter-schemes.

To the credit of “Pastorela ‘92: A Shepherds’ Play,” the show is priced for kids--$2 for children under 18 and just $6 for adults. The children who raced out the door Wednesday, past the long line of candles glowing through paper bags, and waited boisterously for a crack at the pinata, seemed to have had a very good time indeed.

“PASTORELA ‘92:

A SHEPHERDS’ PLAY”

Adapted from traditional folk celebrations by Raul Moncada. Director is William Virchis. Musical direction by Michael Gonzalez. Set design by John Iacovelli. Costume coordination by Dione Lebhar. Choreography and choral direction by Carlos A. Mendoza. Production supervisor is Kimberly Fisk. With Priscilla Allen, Carol Davis, Anasa Briggs-Graves, Ariana Ayala, Sheri Bagley, Chava Burgueno, Paige D. Coan, Adam Westmoreland Corey, Ted Falagan, Louise Gallagher Smith, Patrick A. Garcia, Calixto Hernandez, Donald Higginbotham, Lora Higginbotham, Arminda Joyce, Janine Lowe-Moretto, Carlos A. Mendoza, Ruben D. Padilla, Reuben A. Ramirez, Reuben Enrico, Malinche Alarcon, Lorena Herrera, Lorena Santana, Frances Keiko Smith, Melissa Smith, Mike Campos, Anthony Cozano, Tony Rose Esquivel, Fred Phillips and George Weinberg-Harter. At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday and 2 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 19 and 20. Ends Dec. 20. Tickets are $6 for adults, $4.50 for groups of 15 or more and $2 for children under 18. Special performance at $25 per person to benefit Teatro Mascara Magica on Dec. 18. At the Old Naval Hospital Chapel, Park Boulevard and Presidents Way, Balboa Park. 239-2255.