Hovsepian School students stage Western Diocese Christmas pageant

600 students from area Armenian schools attend

by Lory Tatoulian

Published: Wednesday December 17, 2008

Sarine Pampalian at the Western Diocese Christmas Pageant, Dec. 12, 2008. Hilma Shahinian for the Armenian Reporter

Students from Armenian schools throughout the Los Angeles area - including Manoogian-Demirdjian, AGBU High School, Sahag Mesrob, Arshag Dickranian, and St. Gregory's A. & M. Hovsepian - filed into the Kalaydjian Hall of the Diocesan Complex on December 12 to take part in the Diocese's annual Christmas Pageant.

The event, filled with singing, dancing, and theatrical presentations, features a Christmas program organized each year by a particular school. This year the showcased school was Hovsepian, whose students staged an outstanding show for the young audience of 600.

The Christmas Pageant is the brainchild of Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, who some years ago launched the event as an occasion to bring youngsters together and impart to them the religious meaning of Christmas.

"The best gift we can give Jesus on his birthday is to help one another and love one another," Abp. Derderian said in his remarks to the students. He went on to note that he was extremely happy to see so many youngsters gathered under the Diocese's roof, since he considered the young generation one of the most important elements of community and church life.

A refreshing departure

The program presented by Hovsepian students was a refreshing departure from most Armenian-school Christmas celebrations, which can be heavy on staccato hollers and tired poems, and light on originality. The Hovsepian kids staged an engaging, highly imaginative production that included a pastiche of theatrical shorts written expressly for the event, energetic dance numbers and instrumental accompaniment, polished group recitations, and adorably diminutive Christmas songs.

From the moment the students settled into their seats to watch the show, a hush fell over the hall as a large screen dropped from the ceiling, projecting a video of two boys gazing into the audience and addressing it. The boys' projected faces had been slightly manipulated, giving them an oblong shape and creating the impression that they were looking from high above. As a dialogue developed between the two characters, it became clear that they represented two higher beings: God and his sidekick.

In their conversation, God kept asking his assistant about where his two angels, Saint Kaloust and Saint Avedis, had gone and what they were up to. As soon as the video ended, the screen was lifted, a chorus of young children began to sing, and there appeared Saints Kaloust and Avedis, accompanied by a businessperson.

Saint Kaloust, played by seventh-grader Sevag Rezian, was a cynical angel who asked a litany of sarcastic questions, all the while exuding the sensibilities of a disgruntled, aged Armenian uncle rather than those of a serene angel.

On the other hand, Saint Avedis, played by seventh-grader George Parseghian, was more poised and sincere in his inquisitiveness. He, too, posed a series of existential questions while Manoog the businessperson, played by another seventh-grader, a very funny Raffi Kazarian, stood between the two saints, mitigating their intense exchanges.

The comic scenes of the trio were sprinkled in between other acts, helping glue the various presentations together.

Tradition comes alive

Among the highlights of the program were performances by two choruses, one dressed up as reindeers, the second donning elf costumes. The children sang upbeat Christmas songs with the accompaniment of Garineh Avakian on piano, Zareh Manoukian on guitar, and Mher Vahakn on dumbek. Holding up a large, wooden cutout of Mount Ararat, the children sang songs of what they wished for Christmas.

During the "Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer" number, an overstuffed elementary-school student was being pulled by another student dressed up as a reindeer, and then came the jive dancing as the chorus sang "Run Run Rudolph." Three couples, dressed in 1950s attire of poodle skirts, handkerchiefs, and sunglasses showed off their Lindy Hop moves.

The show was concluded with the eighth-grade class's performance of a play about goodwill and compassion, underscoring Jesus' basic teaching about the importance of serving others.

The grandma in the one-act, played by Allison Keshishian, hears from the three kings that the Prince of Peace was born. She yearns to see the baby. As she embarks on a journey toward Bethlehem, she comes into contact with a number of strangers in need, including an Iraq War veteran.

By the time she arrives at the birthplace of Jesus, the three kings tell her that she has already seen Jesus and given him gifts, by having helped those who are less fortunate than her.

Allison's performance was superb. She played the part wholeheartedly and realistically, embodying the persona of a quintessential Armenian grandmother.

The mentor and guide

Shahe Mankerian, principal of Hovsepian School, was instrumental in the success of the program.

An award-winning poet and playwright, Mr. Mankerian wrote the video montage and the show's last play. While writing the scenes, he actually collaborated with students, drawing on the strength of each to create specific characters for them. Mr. Mankerian also encouraged teachers of various grades to come up with original material for their classes.

"I tried as much as possible to create something new for this event," the young principal said, referring to his intention of telling the story of Christmas in a new way. "The idea was to engage the audience and offer it something fresh. I also tried, in a very subtle way, to make kids understand that it's not all about Santa Claus, that there is much more to Christmas."

Mr. Mankerian also commented on his idea of the video montage. "I just thought how great it would be if the children are presented with two characters who ask them questions," he said and added that such a theatrical format can be an ideal way to inspire kids to think about values and various issues affecting their lives.