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Two For Christmas is Back
December 12, 2023
You’ll never experience “We Three Kings” the same way again!
all photos on this page courtesy of Wayne Fawbush
Lost Nation Theater celebrates the winter holiday season in Montpelier City Hall with the return of David Budbill’s TWO FOR CHRISTMAS staged reading December 13 & 14!
Looking for a new inspiration for the holidays?
Something to beat the “stick season doldrums?”
Look no further than David Budbill’s TWO FOR CHRISTMAS - at Lost Nation Theater – your resident professional theater.
The show, a staged reading, runs just two nights only:
Wednesday & Thursday, December 13 & 14, at LNT’s specially decorated home within Montpelier City Hall Arts Center.
Two for Christmas is a different kind of Christmas play...one filled with grit, humor, and the spirit of the nativity.
You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll never sing "We Three Kings" in the same way again.
The play is wondrous, whacky, and fun for the whole family.
It’s two shows in one. Travel back in time to 1479 England— and end up in Budbill’s mythical Judevine with Antoine, Doug, Arnie, and Tommy.
Act One features “The Second Shepherds Play,” Budbill’s faithful translation of a 15th century miracle play. Miracle plays were known for mixing humor & music, with reverence. Told in verse, it’s the story of a poor thief in 1479 England who steals a lamb from 3 shepherds on Christmas Eve, and brings it home to his cantankerous wife. About to be confronted, the thief’s wife jumps into bed with the lamb and pretends the lamb’s her newborn baby! Returning to their flock, the shepherds are visited by an angel.
Act Two is “The Pulp Cutters’ Nativity” — the same basic story, but 500 years later in Budbill’s famed Judevine. The shepherds are now loggers, a chainsaw replaces the lamb, and the angel is a waitress at the local diner! 
The two one-act plays (using the same cast members) resonate together, illuminating themes of humanity, justice, and how the hilarious can suddenly become holy.
Two For Christmas was originally written and performed in 1996. Lost Nation toured a ‘revival’ in 2012. This special staged reading presentation features many of the same actors – including two actors from the original 1996 production!
Returning to the show are:
Ben Ash (Antoine), Andrew Butterfield (Tommy), Robert Nuner (Arnie) and Mark S Roberts (Doug).
Joining them are Abby Paige (Gil) Katie Gilmartin (Waitress/Angel). Fiddler Susan Reid is our musical director.
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“Winter is a time for all kinds of sacred & miraculous stories, and that’s what David Budbill’s stories are for me. The first time I saw his work, when I was a teenager, was the first time I understood that art could be about places and people I recognized and knew. He brings the mysterious right down to ground level, where you can look it in the eye.” – Abby Paige
LNT’s founding artistic director Kim Bent takes over the role of director.
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“David had a genuine love of an essential rural spirit- people who are independent and have joy in living life for its own sake. The author of the miracle play has a similar sensibility. Both invoke the divine in the midst of the profane and ridiculous. These are very precious stories inspired by the heart of who we are as human beings.” – Kim Bent
David Budbill considered LNT his “home theater’.
It’s thrilling to keep his legacy alive and bring humor, hope, and joy to our community by presenting this staged reading.
Join Us! December 13 & 14, 2023 at 7:00pm.
Live In Person; Live-Streamed (on Dec 13), and via Digital Recording (through December 31)!
Masks are preferred & strongly recommended for in person attendance, but not required.
The Flood made LNT/City Hall’s elevator inoperable, requiring climbing stairs to attend in person. The play will be available digitally to make the show accessible to thosew unable to physically join us. We appreciate your understanding during this emergency situation.
BUY TICKETS HERE