By Beth Jones

Archives Reprint

Roanokers clearly hold a special place in their hearts for their homegrown holiday show, "The Christmas Cup."

After all, it was popular demand that brought the family-friendly play based on the children's book by local author Nancy Ruth Patterson for its third production at Mill Mountain Theatre since 1995.

At Friday's opening performance one woman found herself so captivated by the fake snow falling on the Trinkle Main Stage she cried out: "That's so pretty."

For theatergoers like that woman, "The Christmas Cup" is a one-way ticket to the warm fuzzies. Others, though, may find themselves rolling their eyes by such a sentimental and, at times, unbelievably wholesome tale.

Set in the 1950s, the show follows a young girl named Megan as she buys a tarnished cup at an auction. While the other kids make fun of Megan's purchase, her beloved Nannie sees potential in the cup.

Bit by bit, Nannie instructs, they will fill it with spare change. At Christmas they will use the money they collected to give a gift to a person who was kind to Megan throughout the year.

They must have had a lot of names for the list because angels seem to reside in this small Missouri town. Oh sure, there are the bratty Corye twins, Megan's nemesi, but they seem only mildly obnoxious.

Even a scene in which Megan is peer pressured into throwing dirt balls at a Mennonite's buggy — what should have been the play's most dramatic moment — has a sanitized feel.

Novelist Lee Smith once explained that fiction "demands conflict, someone at odds with their surroundings." It's that conflict that's missing in this play.

Another problem is that other than young Megan we don't really know much about the show's smiley characters. And so, when she finally chooses the person who will receive the gift from her Christmas cup gift, we don't feel as much as we shouldbecause we know so little about the person.

While the story, adapted for the stage by Jere Lee Hodgin, won't appeal to every taste, it's hard to find fault with the production itself.

Hodgin, who also directs, has a gift for working with children, and the young members of the cast shine. Jenna Whisler, who played little Megan on Friday night (two young actresses take turns doing the role), knew her part inside out — an impressive feat considering how many lines the sixth-grader had to memorize.

Only Frances Bavier herself would have been better suited for the Aunt Bee-ish role of Megan's Nannie than the wonderful Mikel Sarah Lambert. Spunky Ionia Zelenka also stood out for her fine performance as Miss Annie.

Set designer Jimmy Ray Ward had no trouble transporting the audience to the small town. His old-fashioned Christmas lights, like the ones they hang in Fincastle, were an especially nice touch.

Those Christmas lights. The snow. The carols.

Maybe only a Grinch would criticize "The Christmas Cup" for creating a world that seems filled with too much goodness. While edgier types probably won't appreciate its virtues, many families will likely consider the simple story the highlight of their holiday.

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