It’s the time of year when theater companies present shows that veer from their routine fare in hopes of selling lots of tickets to fund subsequent productions more aligned with their mission. So perhaps I should be charitable in this season of good feelings when a group like Know Theatre presents A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant, a tongue-in-cheek, 50-minute musical performed by adolescents and directed by Jeff Groh. Presenting the story of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard and the fundamental precepts of his church as interpreted by kids doing a reverent holiday skit, Scientology Pageant is both deadpan and satirical. It’s also a tad mystifying.
Hubbard (1911-1986) is an almost mythical figure: As the cast reminds us at several intervals, he had multiple careers — as a science-fiction novelist, screenwriter, horticulturist, choreographer and spiritual leader. His 1950 book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health became the core of a positive-thought philosophy that evolved into the Church of Scientology. The kids in the cast of Scientology Pageant include Ben Langhorst, 15, who plays Hubbard. He has a sweet voice and truly seems to “get” most of Hubbard’s fundamentals. With nine others, ranging in age from 11 to 16, Langhorst outlines Scientology’s core beliefs in the distilled, simplified, worshipful and unquestioning manner typified by holiday entertainments.
Composer-lyricist Kyle Jarrow has created a handful of Rock-styled show tunes that earnestly describe some of Scientology’s precepts. Liz Vosmeier choreographs the presentation with cheesy, over-the-top enthusiasm. (“Hey! It’s a Happy Day!” opens the show; “Science of the Mind” tells us “Now the sun will shine, now we’ll be just fine.”)
The production continues through Dec. 28. $12. Read a full review here.
This article appears in Nov 19-25, 2008.
