New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-03
TqF BATH PAGEANT
,...,gve Costume Play Liter
arr WaSque.

raTk ''-. .,..l,, there have been too many OF
Ehsn -, are overdone. The critics would
,hsn Anu 90 n they were 10 say that pageants
h nor .,,e when they are conducted as
&c uH. c-.s, dramas or as ambitious and
5Ussio"' sho there is likely 20 be de-
gssH =. = 4, ,,,alitv and impairment OF artistic
ieI" vouis Parker set high stand
a'sn. =. revived pageantry a few years ago.
ro "a, fallen below il himself in his en-
90 ~ =, popularize local history. lmitators
s'.'0. '-.,.-s have not always been equally sue
fn' -, ,beir color schemes and choruses-
So ,.,,s called :, may be because the. have
-. a serious view ~ their functions as
fA ..-,ainers. Frank Lascelles Is the
i'...s,sr ~ pageants. and he dispenses with
IVA -, sltorether. substituting lyrics for the
y -,sroins in which fateful events are in
tA'-., 80 s,.r,natbetically in the Greek spirit.
&c ont faithfully in practice the theory
,,reant ought 10 reproduce in a pictu-
IA 80, the Characteristic features OF local
- The Bath pageant produced under his
- - sr,acks Of the home soil and is one Of
49,, s-tistic and satisfactory Of these beau
.,s tovn shows.
- ,be Roman period Bath has been
- -ssort. and in the eighteenth century II
,sntrs ~ fashion. rivslled by the capital
King was crowned and an abbey
- ana there was a spirited battle between
rsnians and Royalists on the outlying
~. h,r The essential thing has been the in
- NJ The thermal springs In attracting IN
-. and measure seekers. converting the town
u. nopular resort and drawing into the
-. and crescents sovereigns statesmen.
-. coouettes artists and men Of letters.
-. ,,,t n the nageant is written around this
-, =, onens with the pededication Of the
-. NJ Minerva. a fine forum scene, with
-, ladies'. soldiers. peasants priestesses.
..,isrts q, baths slaves and children. Beauti-
800 the combinations Of blue. yellow. scarlet
- vsi,e. and graceful are the measures Of the
,-i.s,essss with glitterng cymhals. vivacious is
~ bvplsy Of an importUnste beggar. fantas-
,,,lv dressed quack doctor and ioquacious in
-,Bss eossiping about their ailments and cures
,,s N the end the temple is consecrated anew
,it ritual and chant 90 the Goddess Of Health
!, subsequent episo- The visits of Queen Eliza
h.tb and Queen Charlotte are recounted. and
mere are glimpses II the reign Of Beau Nash
,bsr Bath was al the height Of its fortunes as
= measure resort Natures largess of the heal
iEg waters is al once the opening and the closing
theme
There are two battle scenes. each conspicuous
Gar he management of large crowds II perform
srs snd for rapid rnsnpuvres in the field one
portrsys the sacking Of Bath by the Saxons. a
feeble garrison Of old men and boys being driven
BY invaders with clash Of spear and shield to
the temple where q ring is formed around the
Queen whose husband has been slain. She seizes
. sword and kills herself and the Saxon chief
orders her body to he burned in the temple and
where queen has died With the battle be-
tween invaders ana defenders. the flight Of
swarm Of women and children and the glints Of
primitive arTnor and costume this is at once a
FANATIC and beautiful scene. The battle OF
lansdoVh is also fought in the open air theatre
q Victoria Park with most effective realism
There are hundred Roundheads, horse and
toN ana there are thirty mounted Royalists 100
OHsh pixies and thirty musketeers. Sir Will
~ Waller dispatches from camp a body Of cav
tI 70 feel of the enemy. and after cantering
a they return with the Royalists in hot pur-
sii with rapid -hanges Of musketry fire and
SURFING march, 'One and All" from the Cornish
saho The pikemen vavering under heavy fire
non he camp. are rallied by Sir Bevn Gren-
fAf "ho Is struck down I'm a charge unon the
PASSWORDS His bodyguard places John Cren-
vie On his fathers horse and the Roundheads
H routed Sir Bevil Grenvillo. MORALLY wound
y carried away on crossed pixies. while the
A9eists With arms reversed, follow their hero
lslence Every detail Of this famous encounter
brought most viyidy before the spectators
VIZ realism which cannot be rivaIed at an
e,lay theatre
. me ceremonial scenes are richer in color and
-1e varied "a movement Two are ecclesias-
u's+ With masses 81 black and white in con-
ar VIII gorgeous vestments and court COS
FA one is the coronation OF King Edgar and
- Liirloa, with bishops. abbots. ADDRESSES.
- monks. nuns chorIsters.s acolytes. sol
-. - 'aoies- ln-waitiLg Counters. thames. women.
-'sn and slaves. The King is inlpersonatcd
VEL known artist, the Queen by the Hon
-" oe blaQulere. and Archbishop Dunstan
-, clergyman. there are imposing professions
- Noaos 81 incense. and there are passages
i. e.ocCton as Wen as a detailed reproduc-
- 'le ceremonial u amounting vesting and
'e1'lg q sovereign. Another episode re-
0ls''p Oliver Kings cream Of angels on
,s. = stairway rising heavonward, and the
49,. ~ HeIfy vi with spearmen. boWrnen and
-" '' 1883 when the building Of the abbey
g. Sun Ihis Is also beautiful scene. win
49, euects Of contrssted color in the assem-
- monks and nuns courtiers and co,,r,
-. merchants and huntslnon soldiers and
49, The progress Of Queen F,lizabetb mo
~ glorious Spectacle. with slrein,, crowds
no.sy -. - e''uis 81 unruly schOolboys and
l,. ppHehuces, q prisoner released fran, m
A. &c stocks, Shakespeare on Kit Marlop.e,s
,o,,,,.- group u players. worthless 81 The cor
10 - III solemn state. flower girls scs,,eri,,-
AseFb a4suSl sovereign with Sir Walter
q, 81. ga ana brilliant train The dfs~o,.c,,. =,
s.f., t..les By Prince Bladud diseuised a
s,,,.. 400 win pigs s the theme Of the holiday
a WIN which this gIittoring scene IS closed
st,s Interesting episode is tie seventh.
ts.rner =, ,ll''h around the Nlsit II a son ana
~ Rs,rt te u IN lH52, when Beau Nash
lsay - A''eh were In tic Ilonitude Of their
tss. na'H was a centre Of fashion. The
~. presents 'ii' popular ftte in honor Of the
sro,. +41'is with = lhronR of cele,rittes