The San Francisco call., 1904-11-21
WILL PRODUCE
MIRACLE PLAY
Students Attending Santa
Clara College Are to Pre-
sent 1.-THE Light Eternal"
SUCCESS NOW. ASSURED
Seats Are in Demand for
Initial Performance TO Be
Given Thanksgiving Eve

SANTA CLARA, Nov. 20.-A brilliant
success is predicted for Santa Clara's
latest miracle play, The Light Eter-
nall A crowded house has been as
sured for the Thanksgiving event per-
formance and q large delegation
from this city will attend on Satur-
day night, November &C.
dress rehearsal took place in the
college theater Thursday night. in the
presence Of a small but critical audi
ence.
The author is a young student of
the college, Martin " Merle, who has
appeared in the public eye on several
occasions past, first as the stage dlrec-
tor of the Passion Play and later as
the author of The Prairie Judgment"
and The Cardinals Prisoner"
In brief the plot of the play is this:
Pancratius, young Roman noble Sc
cretly a Christian, wins the Emperor's
badge in a public speaking contest that
takes place within the crowded walls
Of the Colosseum. Thus he gains the
admiration Of all Rome and at the
same time the jealous enimity of his
defeated opponent, COrvinus, son of the
prefect of the city.
a
occurs after the debate, Pancratius, in
famed with the ardOr of youth, is
taunted into making a passionate con-
fession of his faith. From the fatal
effects of his declaration he is only
saved by the act of his bosom friend,
Sebastian, captain of the Emperor
guards, who appoints the youth to
high army post at CamDagna. Pan
cratius serves in the army for four
NTH in ne n
time living happily with his foster
parent, Dionysius. COrvinus, however,
gains the projects chair on the death
of his father and Immediately makes
use of his new power to force Pancra-
titus to resign.
The young officer comes to Rome,
and, in the presence of the projects
court, he is offered half the wealth of
the city if he will but read aloud the
edict against the Christians. An in
tensely dramatic scene follows, in which
the youth, after apparently yielding,
suddenly rushes to the top of the
throne, tears the edict to fragments
and thunders forth the first command
ment Il am the Lord, thy God. Thou
shalt not have false gods before me-
For this he is brought before the En-
peror Diocletian, and, in the banquet
hall of the palace, where almost one
hundred and fifty characters find repre-
sentation, he is tried and sentenced to
death.
Angered at his inability to conquer
the boy Diocletian calls on his guards
to force Pancratius to his knees be-
fore statue of the god Jupiter.
struggle follows and Pancratius cries
out for heavenly aid. Instantly
binding flash of light smashes the
statue to bits and leaves in its place
a glittering electric cross. D1Onyslus,
accompanied by Sebastian, visits his
young ward in the prison and gives
him a small phial containing the blood
of his martyred father. The parting
between the three is very affecting
Corvinus visits the prison and taunts
the young Christian, and a stormy
scene occurs between them.
The last act represents the Emperor's
box in the Roman amphitheater. Many
gladiatorial contests take place and are
cut short by the impatient shouts of
the mob, clamoring for the young
Christian. The youth is at length led
forward. His speeches to the Emperor
are interrupted by the mob. which
thirsts for his blood. DiOcletian finally
gives the signal TO admit the beasts,
and as he does so Pancratius, stretch
ing his arms in the form of a cross,
cries out, Forgive them, Father. for
they know not what they dO!' Then
the clang of falling bars is heard to-
gether with the roar of a panther and
the lights go out.
For few minutes the confused
shrieking of the multitude continues
and then there is silence. A beam of
light from above disclOses a mangled
body on the ground at which all are
gazing steadily. Gradually the back
ground lights up and through the trans
parent scenery the spirit of Pancratius
is seen, surrounded by ministering an
gels A male choir sings the "Gloria."
The costumes for the play are ex-
ceptionally striking, as is likewise the
ACCOMPANYING vocal and Instrumental
music. The principal roles will be
enacted by the following students:
Gerald p. Beaumont, William Johnson,
John l. Ivancovich, George Casey,
Fred Sigwart William McKagney,
Francis Ryan. August Aguirre. William
p. Crowley. George ]. Chrystal. Lee
Murphy. J. c. Bach, Frank Heffernan,
Leo Atteridge, Edward McDougall. W.
/ T. Blow. Mathen Wilson. Robert Fitz-
gerald. Joseph Collins. Mortimer Gregg
and Morgan Lewis.
A special train will leave Third and
Townsend streets Saturday evening.
! November 26 at $50 D. m. stopping
at all way stations, and returning i'm
mediately after the performance.
! Reserved seats for November 26 may
be procured at Sherman & Clay's.
1