The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-02-25
Normal School Play Was
Very Well Done
PAST SHOWN IN FULL
Appreciative Capacity Audience
At the Mankato Theatre
Last Evening

Pilgrims" by Constance darcy
Mckay, in the Mankato theatre last
evening. The pageant was preceded
by a Lone act play, 1.-The Sojourners"
by Ann Hartwell and Isabelle Meek
er.
No more fitting time than the eve
of great national holiday could
have been chosen to celebrate an
event OF more than national signific-
canoe, the Pilgrim Tercentenary. The
decision to stage the pageant at the
theatre with its larger stage and larg-
er audience capacity was a very
happy one. Long before the hour set
for the play every seat was taken and
many were turned. away disappointed
in not being able to secure seats.
Promptly at S:15 the Herald step
per before the curtain trumpetlng
to the world the gIory of pageantry.
Then the curtain rose on scene IN
the city OF Leyden, Holland, in the
summer OF 1920. Flowers bloomed,
the trees were green, the English IVY
twined the neat -picketed fence.
In the distance could be seen the sea.
THE Sojourners" tells the story
of a Pilgrim family who having had
refuge in Holland for some twelve
years, are about to take passage on
the Ship Sreedwell for England, there
to embark on the larger ship, the
Mayfiower for that perilous voyage
across the sea to America. The
many ties of friendship with their
Dutch neighbors are to be severed;
the home and its dainty garden plot
are to be given UP. Even their furn-
La hah
benham is English and he wants his
children to speak English and not
Dutch. America means to him new
England" He is willing to brave all
the known and unknown dangers for
this America where he can have
broad lands to till and freedom to
worship God according to his own
conscience.
The well written play was given
under the direction of Miss Con-
stance. The parts were all well sus-
clearness of enunciation, it being cas-
lily possible to get every part Of
the dialogue. The setting was pretty
and elaborate and the costuming in
keeping with the period.
After an interlude during which
Lamm's orchestra played several
selections the Herald again appears:
"Give heed to this, nations trumpet
blast and see her pictured life in
pageantry."
AS the curtain rose on the scene
of IAN open glade near Plymouth"
we heard that fine old song of Mrs.
Hemaus' 1.-The Breaking Waves
Dashed High On a Stern and Rock
Bound Coast" This was magnificently
sung as were all three of the songs in
the pageant.
The Pilgrims enter, a little band
of men, women and children the men
bearing arms. They are headed by
Cant. Miles Standish, who seeks
to reassure the. This is the Sabbath
and they are vending their way to-
ward the church. They are. surprised
by Indians, several Of whom are shot
by the armed guards. The Pilgrims
pass out of sight and from the dis
lance comes the old German chorale
They who on the Lord Rely" very
effectively sung without accompani-
ment Then comes a scene from the
life of the Pilgrims. A maiden has
open to enjoy the sunshine while she
works. The elders seeing her and re-
Duke her levity. Pastor John Robin
son seated not far away hears the
rebuke and as he muses. on this he
has a vision. America comes to him
and shows him what America will
become. She shows him colonial life
and its festivities; the Dame school;
the Maypole dance with its country
him a long line OF our great men and
women. In a vision George Washing
ton appears and fades away. William
Penn and the Indians, Benjamin
Franklin and his kites pass by. And
soldiers of the Rebellion Of the Span.
ish American war and the men and
women who served their country in
the great world war.
Then, with their yelled faces and
mystic dances the year ushers in the
spirit Of progress, bringing with her
acts,-sciences and industries.
Rank upon rank and file upon file
come the glories that are to be in this
America of John Robinsons.
After an ensemble America the
Beautiful" the vision fades. John
Robinson is left alone. Pilgrims and
Indians are seen passing in the back
ground. The curtain falls.
The part of America was sugerbly
taken by Miss Hanson Of st. Peter.
Her voice was very clear and rich and
her speaking parts added much to the
clarity of the pageant.
Over a hundred and fifty people
took part in the production. There
were children from all grades Of the
elementary school, from second grade
up, students from the Normal school
and members of the faculty. No names
were given on the program and 1t Is
doubtful IL 1t would have added to
anyone's pleasure to have known who
the actors and dancers were.
The entire pageant was under the
direction of Miss Constance, ably as
sisted by the chaperones Of the var
ious episodes. Miss Alice Frymir had
charge of the dances Miss Nancy Will
liams had charge of the pageant
songs. Miss Sparrow was the stage
artist and was responsible for the
color schemes. Miss Balm designed
the costumes and directed their max
ing.
Incidental music suitable for the
various episodes was played by Mrs.
Sumner Palmer and Alexis Parlova /.
The normal school as a whole Is
to be congratulated on having pres
ented such splendid and worth
while pageant in so artistic man
ner.