The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-01-01
XMAS CANTATA
Beautiful Singing and Acting at
The Baptist Church.
SANTA CLAUS A CENTRAL FIGURE

The audience room of the Baptist
church was we'll filed Thursday night to
witness the presentation OF "a Christmas
cantatl, styled The Wallis Christmas"
TIE teaching Of this beautiful cantata
is broad and high, comprising the true
spirit in which Christmas should be OBJ
servrd-that ~ kindIiness and good will
to all-and we'll indeed. did the 40 or
NC re children of the Sunday school sus-
tain their respective parts, whether solo,
duet, trio. chorus or dialogue.
A brief outline is not amiss in justice to
its rendition
1st. Chorus, representing rich children.
2nd. Chorus, representing poor chill
dren.
Bird. Chorus, representing smallest
waits
CHARACTERS
Christmas Fairy. .....Dorls Pates
May lrich girl Pearl Stone
FlOssie (rich girll Berry
Nan (poor girO rO.....................Leon Clark
Neddy (poor little cripplr)... Roger Clark
SANTA Claus.....................S T.. Eastburn
A lively instrumental prelude intro
duces }2 uf the first chorus i'll IA bright
chorus. Christmas Time Has Come
Again" followed by dialogue, in which
Santa Claus is rather disparagingly
spoken OF, when May sings most sweetly
Way Up in the Clouds or Way Down in
q Cave" with bright refrain with each
verse.
Then Flossie steps 10 the front. and in
passive mood, sings effectively, "When
Was Little Child" This brought forth
a sigh from all the little childien. when
The Fairy" enters, "a brilliant and glis-
tening creature, and catechises them, en-
deavOring To Undue in them proper
spirit. and waving her wand Of com
mand, an appropriate instrumental in
PRODUCTION brings forth the second chorus
of 40 or more, a motley group OF the
poor and neglected ones, with Nan and
Neddy: he on his crutches and hump
prominent. the former bearing for their
Christmas tree a discarded branch.
They at once break forth in a joyful
chorus. Merry, Merry Christmas, Here
it is at Last.
Nan, standing the branch up, begins a
lengthy dialogue with Neddy and the
poor chorus, the recital OF Ne1dy as to
aflliction. Then over the empty branch
they heartily sing, "Sing the Song
OF Christmas From Our Thankful
Hearts" Eagerly expecting Santa Claus,
the little waits step forward and sing
gleefully, Santa Clausis Coming" And
now to tell Santa what they want in a
song, "0ld Santa Claus, Darling fol
lowed by spirited refrain.
The proper spirit takes possession OF
them, and in order TO indicate it and
carry it out, May and Nan sing duet.
As this beautiful duet was concluded,
the curtain was withdrawn from the
rich children's tree, and little Neddy cries
ont, But where's Santa Claus
The fairy calls for him. and all wait ex
pectantly. Family and afar of sound
the jingling Of sleigh bells; nearer they
come and more distinctly are they heard,
when amid ordinations OF delight
Santa Claus appeared, a typical old
Santa OF ye o'den times, and after greet
ing the children and specially Nan and
Neddy, the combined chOruses burst forth
in a grand chorus OF Welcome, o Santa
Claus, so dearly loved" At the conclu-
sion OF this chorus Santa Claus gives the
children wholesome advice, based upon
the text OF song. Its the season OF low
ing and giving"
The fairy announces the Christmas
spirit has come and her work Is done.
Then Angels OF Christmas" is sung by a
trio, whan the entire chorus bursts forth
in an independent chorus, concluding a
most beautiful service and pleasing one
and all at the rendering OF work, 80
pages long, from memory, both dialogues
and music, without prompting and with
a spirit and understanding which made
it refreshing as al entertainment and in
structive as lesson, both foryoung and
old.
The choir surroundings were neatly
and modestly decorated and the quiet
and order which prevailed from the be-
ginning to the close was phenomenal.
Much credit is due Prof. A. B. Bower
ing, chairman OF the committee. for the
success OF the entertainment. The full
committee was composed OF the follow
ing: Prof A. B. Bowering, Col. K. ID.
Cole, S. b. Quinn, NJ. g. Willis, Jr., DR.
]. Garnett King, Miss Lizzie Proctor,
Mrs. j. s. Courtney, Misses Matte Quinn,
Alice Cole, Matte Tansill, Cora Lee Cole,
Lula Williams, Margaret ii. Crismond,
Amelia Curtis, Mesdames A. b. Bower