Kent Bush: ‘That’s what Christmas is all about’
While I was enjoying my son's Christmas play at church this weekend, I was reminded of "A Charlie Brown Christmas."
Both scripts remind the viewer that commercialism is not the true meaning of Christmas. But as Miss Kansas Emily Deaver grinned and sang using a gaggle of toddlers as a back-up band, I was also reminded of a famous line from the Charles Schultz production that debuted 43 years ago today.
"Stop the music. We're going to do this play and we're going to do it right."
I could hear Charlie Brown's famous words when I watched some toddlers cry out for their mothers, some wiggle off the stage and others shake their tiny jingle bells to the tune.
Charlie Brown had to restore order by bringing an end to the freelance dancing of the cast of cartoon characters during "A Charlie Brown Christmas."
When you put toddlers and preschoolers in front of a crowd, there is no restoring order. All you can do is control the chaos.
"A Charlie Brown Christmas" is still drawing large television audiences and I think there are several reasons.
First, there is the great jazz piano soundtrack. Without Linus' jazzy piano chops, the animated cast would have no framework within which to display their funky dance moves.
Once this Christmas special hits the screen, the tunes are tattooed on your brain. Good luck removing them from your memory banks.
The second reason the special is still popular today is the authenticity. Who can't relate to getting a Christmas program together, watching a neighbor cross the bounds of common sense when it comes to decorating their home or spending far too much money on the commercial aspect of the season?
Snoopy's award winning home décor is used as an example of going to far. However, it seems tame compared to many people I know today.
But the third and most likely reason the show maintains its popularity after more than four decades is its message.
Charlie Brown was frustrated with his young cast as they fought over parts and decorations. He found himself wondering aloud, "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?!"
Linus quietly says he knows and steps to the center of the stage where a spotlight falls on him as he begins to quote the Christmas story from the King James Version of the Book of Luke.
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.' That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."
Obviously, network executives 43 years ago were more than a little concerned about how direct the message was. They believed viewers would be offended by recitations of passages from the Bible. Schultz disagreed and he was willing to pull the program before he removed the message or watered it down.
"If we don't tell the true meaning of Christmas, who will?" he said.
Apparently viewers 43 years ago - and even as recently as Monday night - managed not to be offended by the idea that Christmas is about more than Santa Claus, red-nosed reindeer and shiny aluminum trees.
Every church, school or community group preparing a Christmas musical can learn from this special. If you stay true to the message, the program's success if far more likely.
Whether the program features wooly little lambs, Miss Kansas singing with toddlers, a full orchestra performing Handel's Messiah, or a group of animated kids with a great jazz pianist, the reason for the season remains the same.
Augusta Gazette
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