New-York tribune., 1907-07-22
EAST ANGL[AN FETE.
Pageant at Bury st. Edmunds-4
host .Artistic Shorc.
Bury st. Edmunds. July

N Parker is master and playwright. and as he
IS the inventor OF this modern form of open air
melodrama and has prohted BY his own expert
ences at Sherborne and Warwick. the most ami
mated and symmetrical entertainment has been
provided here. The chorus. orchestra and corps
Of amateur actors are larger than at the Rom
sey pageant; the scheme has been ordered by
one controlling mind and is superior in literary
and dramatic qualities to that of the oxford
pageant; and the cOstuminG and grouping are
more varied and picturesque than at St Adams
the other open air shows Of the summer. Mr..
Parker has sense of theatrical situation which
amateur pageant writer's do not possess. and
he has genius for combining the traditions Of
local history and for managing masses OF per-
formers on a large stage. The text OF the play
is his. with the exception of the first episode
which is contributed by Mr.. Stuart Ogilyie; the
sixth episode compressed from Shakespeare's
Henry VI: the narrative choruses and triumph
song by Mr.. James RhOades; the Latin carmen
by the Master Of Peterhouse. and the final
chorus by Mr.. II. r. Barker. 1t Is the best lit
orature which the pageant season has produced
The scores for orchestra and chorus by the Mas
ter OF Music. Mr.. Sham. are exceedingly good.
and are supplemented by dance song and other
numbers by other musicians and by incidental
music by wagner and great composers. The
pageant IS artistic drama reproducing the racial
movements, the uOnastio scenes and the stir
ring events which the ancient town has wit
messed during the Christian era; and It is
enacted on the abbey grounds with animation
skill and realism by a well trained host OF two
thousand performers.
Bury St Edmunds like Romsey, had great
abbey which the natural centre OF its his
tory for centuries. It had also older tradition
Roman station, and full use has been made
Of Il IN the picturesque opening episode The
primeval BritOns are introduced as slaves pre-
pairing feast for Faustinus, the Prefect They
are ruurnuring against their bondage and sigh
Ing for the coming Of their queen. Boadicea, as
their rescuer and ennancipator. Prefect, centu-
rion, guard, military guests and Roman ladies
enter with blare OF trumpet, and are entertained
at their banquet with symbolic dance, In which
Latin Civilization forces Barbaric Ignorance 70
kneel and render homage. This IS followed by
the entrance Of a British chieftain attended by
warriors TO announce the coming Of the Queen
When red haired BOadicea, arrayed in black furs,
allghts from her chariot, with her daughters
behind her. and pleads for justice for her race
she is dismissed with contempt. Uncovering her
shoulders, she shows the marks OF the conquer
or's scourge; and the infuriated slaves turning
upon the revelling Romans, overpovTer them and
assassinete the Prefect. Boadicea. wrapping her
black mantle around her. receives the homage
Of her subjects and drives away In a chariot
with scythes on the wheels-a splendid figure OF
Vengeance There are fine contrasts Of color
and action in this spirited episode, and the end
Ing IS dramatic with the symbolism Of the gro
tesque dance reversed and the slaves under their
victorious Queen battling for their liberties
Tbs second and third episodes in three scenes
Illustrate the chief traditions OF the town con-
nected with the martyrdom OF the Saxon King
St Edmund. and the establishment OF the rfch
est shrine in East Anglia. First comes the coro-
nation procession Of the new monarch with
priests, thames and nobIes-a beautiful spec-
taclei and when gifts have been scattered
among the Joyous villagers Lothparck, a Danish
Alng' rescued by fishermen from shipwreck, IS
welcomed as royal guest One OF the Saxon
retliners. Born, with falcon on his wrist chal-
lenges the Danes hawk and secretly stabs the
royal guest IN whIrl OF passion; and he is
punlshed Tor his treachery by being cast adrfft
IN the sea without oar SAIL water or Pood In
the next scene Edmund suffers uartvrdor, for
MS retainer's crime the Danish archers defeat
Ing the Saxon warriors and scoursing and he
headinS hiIni and the traditional miracle Of tho
guarding or the monarchs head by a wolf for
forty days until Il could be reunited 10 the hodv
Is vaguely Indicated. In the third eDfso4a az
pieced together monastio incidents occurring IN
me course Of ESQ years: the plundertng OF the
sArine by Swey'n. the Danish King and his own
sudden death by the spear Of ST. Edmund: The
chaFter granted by King Canute as m act ~
restitution; the pilgrimage Of Edmund thA Cow
Iessor barefoot to endow the monastery With
lands and royal privileges; the reburfaI ~ +ba
SAINT > Fe1lcs ana the completion Of the abbey
and the visit Of Henry to place his CROWN ~,
me aItar' In the fourth episode appears Abbot
samson, Carlyle's man OF action ana resorT1ar
% uIsclpHAe the monks, 70 intirnIdate the r1onav
lenders, TO receive in splendid state TTanrz, IT
ana queen Eleanor, and to outwtt King Jo17
All al l--ess rnonasuc scenes and royal PROFESSIONS
are produced with dramatic effect Amateurs az
are the actors they wear the costumes os +Lo,,
they had always lived IN them, and thew daIt7Ts-
their lines so clearly and trenchantIv thai bsr7I
word IS missed from the upper tiers or sea+s
clearly told. 's S'ory
The Magma Charta scene IN which +.,,.- e..
p@'ohs IN the monks stalls draw their swords
lay the parchment the altar and unite IN an
80, oa'l 20 protect English liberties is a striking
I5 ll.-e@u- IN Ihe Shakespeartan episode of Duke
fiumphTey, Queen Margaret and Henry VI fs
introduced John Lydgate writer Of irar,e+Jc
inasques and Eluminator OF manuscript vbo
was the earliest man OF letters in the rnonastic
stronghold The final scenes carry the story or
LHe monastio town into the sixteenth century
Dreading the spOuation OF the shrine bv treas
ury ofhcIals, the monks under their last abbot
teVeFentIy remove 1t. Princess Mary Tudor now
the wife Of Charles Brandon the Duke OF Suf
Iolk' after short reign as Queen Of France
opens q holiday fair. while singing girls strew
MOVERS before her; and there is a medieval
Tevel Of jolity, with burgesses and trade guilds
in professions. pedlers hawking wares gypses
telling fortunes, Flemish weavers displaying
their goods tumblers and rope walkers per
forming. and stately court dances and roIlickins
country reels being danced IN turn. While this
merrymaldng is IN progress deep bell sounds
The ancient monastery has been dissolved and
the monks IN sombre file march through the
crowd with their cowls drawn. Subsequently
there IS q Latin song by the boys of the gram
mar school founded by Edward VI and this is
followed by the entrance OF Queen Elizabeth
surrounded by her courtiers and by the singing
OF the triumph song by the madrigal choir and
Of the final hymn by the main choir TO music
adapted from ''RlenzL' The march of the two
thousand performers is the last scene. the files
Of soverelgns. queens. princesses abbOtS. monks.
warriors. schoolbOys. tradespeople and villagers
gradually disappearing until Saint Edmund is
left alone in his glory at his ruined shrine.