CHRISTMAS WITH IDA EARLY

by Robert Butch ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1983

A falloff from Ida Early Comes Over the Mountain--full of plaudits for the Suttons' earthy Mary Poppins, but short on fresh ways for her to shine. Dour, disapproving Aunt Earnestine comes for a visit and comes down with the flu; saved by Ida's nursing, she's almost unrecognizable--playing five-card-draw with the twins on Christmas Eve, presenting Ida herself with ""decadent"" lounging pajamas on Christmas. (Earnestine might have been different, Mr. Sutton has reminded the children, had there been an Ida Early to brighten up her motherless childhood.) Ida's chief antagonist, though, is the new young minister--as much of a stick-in-the-mud, it quickly appears, as his older predecessor. Their running battle climaxes at the Christmas Eve manger-""tableau""--when Ida, a Wise Man, has the donkey yodel at the end of each stanza of ""Silent Night."" (Earlier and better, she uses her knack for ventriloquism to have the Thanksgiving turkey save his neck.) Not surprisingly, Brother Preston asks her not to come back for the evening performance--but only she, of course, can get the donkey into the manger (or handle the wild dog who disrupts the performance). Randall and Ellen, the two older Sutton children, speak up to Brother Preston about the true religious spirit; hen Frizzy demonstrates it--with much cackling--by laying an egg on stage; and Ida, unresentful and uncowed, hikes over to the next county to get illegal Christmas firecrackers. . . inviting Brother Preston for the show. (En route, with the frost turning everything silver: ""The splendor of the greatest cathedral in the world couldn't compare with it."") Sadly: sentimental farce.

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1983

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Viking

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1983

Categories: FICTION