The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-01-26

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the pageant is being recognized as
. permanent institution in commu-
nifty activities is the view held by
Hazel Mackaye. who is in Washing
ton now to produce . pageant for
the national woman's party.
Miss Mackaye ought to know the
status Of the pageant If anybody
does, for she has been closely inter-
ested In this form Of drama ever
since the time when she had to ex-
plain what the word pageant meant
before she could talk to any one
about it That wasn't so many
years ago-not more than ten or
twelve-but since then almost every
town in the country must have had
try at depicting local history,
from Indians down to profiteers,
with costumes, rhythmic dancing,
and everything. Some Of the exhi-
billions have sent the audience
away thrilled for the first time in
their lives over the dramatic past
Of their home town, and awakened
to the realization that they were
taking part in the latest chapter Of
its history. Other pageants, hastily
scrambled together, or lacking COM
petent direction. have helped to link
the word pageant In many Ids
with crude, uninteresting eff1ets.
"The pageant is most often an
amateur affair."" says Miss Mackaye,
but that does not mean that 1t
should bear the earmarks Of what
We call an amateurish production.
ANY group Of citizens in q COM
munity can be used somewhere in
a pageant. No one who comes to
me for part in one OF my produc-
tons Is ever turned down. But not
every applicant can be cast indis-
criminately as a knight, peasant. or
gnome. That is where some mis-
takes have been made. Because the
pageant is to be q community affair
each part is given to the person who
asks for it"
The pageant, as Hazel Mackaye
sponsors it, is an expression Of q
great idea. This idea is usually put
across by series Of episodes, or
only short time may elapee.. A
new set Of character may be used
in each scene. These things do not
matter at all in pageantry.
How Pageants Are Made.
What is important is that the
scenes are related in sequence and
theme. That is, there are no fash
backs in a pageant, as in the NOV
les. If time plays any part in de-
veloping the idea, the scenes must
march down history in their proper
order. And in every case the bic
thought around which the pageant
is written must dominate every par,
of it
These differences OF pageantrJ
from ordinary stage plays are il
Illustrated in a mission pageant
which Miss Mackaye helped tt
write and produce in foxr eastern
cities a few years ago. This pag.
cant told a story Of enlightenment,
through the missionary movement
There were four scenes. each one
practically 1-act play with spoken
lines, dramatic situation, and q
we'll developed climax. In one cpl.
sode an Indian bride OF the Punjal
was brought to be thrown, protest
ing. on the flaming funeral pyre o.
her husband. Another scene show
ed a Hawaiian maiden who hat
been selected to be tossed over into
the crater Of a volcano to appease 4
lwrathful goddess. In.the other two
scenes, one laid in Africa, and on,
in Alaska, similar tragedies wer,
pending, and in all of them thu
white missionary bringing enlight
eminent, helped to avert the catas
trophe. The four episodes. as 70,
can see. had no connection excep
in theme.
| Another of Miss Mackaye's pag
eants, presented in Washington, de
picted the life Of Susan B. Anthony
showing scenes in which she ad
vanced the cause of woman sui
frage.
i A Suffraget Pageant. ?
| Hazel Mackaye's newest pageant
which she is to put on when thu
women hold their convention herr
in February, is to be given in con
nection with the dedication OF thu
statue to Susan Anthony, Lucretis