About the Play:

The Butterfingers Angel, Mary & Joseph, Herod the Nut & the Slaughter of 12 Hit Carols in a Pear Tree is a full-length Christmas Entertainment by William Gibson. Presenting the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus from a fresh and richly creative point of view, the play combines a series of cleverly constructed short scenes, traditional Christmas music and antic characterizations into a wholly original theatre piece. Created by one of America's major dramatists, this touching, funny and highly imaginative retelling of the Christmas story brings new relevance to its timeless subject.

The Butterfingers Angel, Mary & Joseph, Herod the Nut & the Slaughter of 12 Hit Carols in a Pear Tree puts a unique spin on the Christmas story that is sure to warm the heart while making your audience laugh! Dealing with the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus from a fresh and richly creative point of view, the author combines a series of deftly constructed short scenes, traditional Christmas music, and often antic characterizations into a wholly original theatre piece. The flow of the action follows the Biblical recounting, but is enhanced by a tree, a sheep and a donkey who talk (and most amusingly); a beguiling Mary who had heretofore decided that men and marriage were not for her; a suddenly cautious Joseph who now contends that he is too old for his intended (having earlier scoffed at Mary for expressing the same thought); and a flustered boy-angel who directs the action from a promptbook and manages to get only the most strangled, bleating sounds from his trumpet. But, through all the lively and resourceful happenings, the true significance of the occasion is never lost, and the underlying mood and spirit of reverence is, if anything, enhanced and made new by the distinctive approach of this joyful and unique retelling.

Cast: 4 women, 6 men, 4 children

What people say:

"Angelic…beguiling wit and humor … as likeable as it is lively…." — Boston Herald-American

"…a joyous celebration, a poignant tale…." — Syracuse Herald-Journal

"…a gift of love and hope to the world." — Syracuse Post

About the Playwright:

William Gibson (1914-2008) was a Tony-award winning American playwright. Over the course of a writing career that lasted seven decades, he wrote many poems, short stories and plays, but had his greatest success with The Miracle Worker. The story of Helen Keller – who could not see, hear or speak – is one of the world's most frequently performed plays.