Chattanooga Pulse

“In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines,
lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.
They left the house, at half past nine
in two straight lines, in rain or shine.
The smallest one was MADELINE.”
— Ludwig Bemelmans

And so begins the beloved series that has been popular the world over with children and adults alike for more than 60 years. This holiday season, the Youth Theatre at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre brings Bemelmans’ story of his beloved heroine to life with the musical, Madeline’s Christmas, book and lyrics by Jennifer Kirkeby and music by Shirley Mier.

Bemelmans’ original story, Madeline’s Christmas, is the third in his series about an irrepressible, feisty and ultimately fearless little girl who was a smart and strong role model for girls in the pre-feminist era of the ’50s, when it was originally published. Many critics think that Madeline was based on her creator, who was himself a creative, free-spirited, and strongly opinionated non-conformist novelist, muralist, nonfiction writer, screenwriter and oil painter.

Bemelmans himself preferred to describe his strengths more as artist-illustrator than writer, but what made him an effective children’s book author was his ability to write stories for children that did not insult them. “We are writing for children, but not for idiots,” he once stated.

In this story, he once again sends the precocious Madeline to the rescue. When the 12 little girls go out in the cold, 11 have left their scarves drying and end up sick in bed, along with their beloved teacher, Miss Clavel. (There’s no bad guy here, just bad germs.)

Madeline, who didn’t obey the rules and forgot to wash her scarf, is the only one who doesn’t get sick. As she is busy caring for the girls, who are bemoaning the fact that they can’t go home to their families for Christmas, a rug salesman appears at the door. He sells them 12 magical flying rugs, instantly heals the girls, and they all fly home for Christmas and back to the boarding house for New Year’s Day.

“It’s a book you would have read as a little kid, but you would enjoy the musical even as an adult now. [The musical] is longer and has more details,” explains Anna Shaw, who plays Simone. “The girls sing to express their feelings and you see more how little girls act.”

“For people who have read [the book], it’s really amazing,” says Savannah McMahan (Kate). “[The girls] have the flu or a cold. They are really happy or sick and they want to sing about it.” Lily Armstrong (Isabelle) agrees. “You get more personality from the girls. More depth. It’s easier for little kids to understand.”

Maggie Meller (Madeline) can’t wait for people to see the show. “It’s a fun thing. There’s ice cream in the show. We fly on magic carpets. There’s a Christmas tree. There’s Christmas music. The hats are little—what’s that word?—berets, and we wear red coats with black buttons.”

Adults who read the story years ago will enjoy Madeline’s Christmas, insist the girls, but they really want other children to see the show and then become involved with the Youth Theatre at the CTC. Lily enthuses, “My entire goal for every play I’m in is for them to say, ‘I want to do that!’”

Children interested in getting involved with the Youth Theatre can go on the CTC website at www.theatrecentre.com for more information. And why would they do that? “Because it’s awesome!” exclaims Maggie.

Madeline’s Christmas
$7
7:30 p.m. December 11,18
2:30 p.m. December 13,14,19, 20
Chattanooga Theatre Centre, Circle Stage
400 River St.
(423) 267-8538
www.theatrecentre.com