‘Christmas Belles’ rings in chaotic fun

The eccentric residents of Fayro, Texas, are staging an unusual Christmas pageant and they’re bringing it to Houma, courtesy of Le Petit Theatre de Terrebonne (7829 Main St.).

The theater is staging the comic romp “Christmas Belles” Thursday, Dec. 4, through Sunday, Dec. 14, except for Monday, Dec. 8. All weekday shows are at 7:30 p.m. and weekend shows are at 2 p.m. The theater is staging both 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. shows on Saturday, Dec. 13.

“It’s exactly what Houma needs coming out of the hurricanes,” said director Sue Peace. “Just come out and enjoy.”

“Christmas Belles” is the middle of a trilogy of comedies written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten about the Futrelle sisters of Fayro. All three authors are Southerners. The plays are gentle send-ups of what they call the “pre-Wal-Mart South” which they remember fondly. Wooten wrote many episodes of the TV sitcom “The Golden Girls.”

Although “Belles” is set in Texas, “it could be ‘Any Town, U.S.A.,’ any small town,” Peace said.

The play lightheartedly illustrates the tension brought about by the holidays.

In the play, Honey Raye Futrelle (Stephanie Kenney-Gomez), who suffers from hot flashes, takes over Fayro’s Tabernacle of the Lamb’s annual Christmas pageant from Geneva Musgrave (Jean Scott). Miss Geneva, the town florist, is not happy about it.

“Honey Raye’s putting on a different type of Christmas pageant,” Peace said.

But she faces all kinds of problems staging her “different” kind of pageant.

For one thing, one of her sisters, Twink (played by Peace) is in jail for accidentally burning down part of Fayro over problems with her boyfriend. The other sister, Frankie (Toni Hicks), is overdue and irritable.

Problems come from the pageant’s cast members, too.

Dub (Reggie Pontiff), the Santa Claus for the pageant and Frankie’s husband, is passing a kidney stone. The sheep for the nativity scene have ideas of their own. They’re watched over by a shepherd (Frank Davis) who needs his little red wagon like Linus needs his blanket and who has to announce how much he loves Christmas every time he comes onstage.

Among the three kings at the nativity is The King, (Delvin Foret, who is also a deputy), an unhappy Elvis impersonator.

Adding to the chaos, the pageant is being shown live on local cable access for the first time and a big secret is revealed “that changes the dynamics of the sisters,” Peace said.

“Belles” also has Pat Crochet as the manager of the Dairy Dog and Cami Ellender as the daughter of Frankie and Dub.

Michael Gros is the Tabernacle of the Lamb’s interim pastor and Donna Banda plays a society matron.

Peace said “Belles” is fine for kids to see. This is the fifth play she’s directing for Le Petit, though she’s done others with her Houma production company P.S. Productions.

Tickets are $8. Call Le Petit at (985) 876-4278 for reservations.