Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-25
Pageant "The Prophetic Child
Presented at Old South Church

Inc Christmas pageant, 1.-The
Prophetic Child" presented Sunday
. evening at the Old South church.
| was an elaborate and beautiful spec
taele. The church platform had
been enlarged for the occasion and
| wired for footlights. The choir was
concealed by a heavy green curtain
and the front and sides were deco
rated with small straight Young fir
trees. Over the organ shone the
star.
AS the pageant opened, the Rev.
Mr.. Bradford stepped upon the plat
form and recited the prologue to the
strains of Holy Night
Then he drew aside the screen and
disclosed the Manager with Mary and
Joseph leaning over the child. The
beauty of the scene held the an
dlence. The only lights were those
OF the footlights and the calcium
light directed from the rear of the
church upon the manager Joseph then
spoke OF the hope Of Israel. Az he
finished the choir sang 20 Little
Town Of Bethlehem" Then Mary
sang Lullaby Song" to the Babe
IN the manager. Softly and sweetly
the beautiful tones sounded. The
part Of Joseph was taken by Frank
Rabbit, that Of Mary by Mrs. Frank
Babbitt. Both were excellent in
their roles and the lullaby was par
tlcularly beautiful and effective.
Joseph. when Mary's song was
done, pointed to the glowing star
above them and the choir sang,
There's Song in the Air" Then a
group Of shepherds, who had been
conversing in the field. saw angels
appearing unto them. singing "Hark.
the Herald Angels Sing" The shep-
herds were Lloyd Powers, George A.
Stafford. Ferdinand Coburn and A. F.
Goodrich. They were very effective
| IN their oriental costumes and car
! rying their shepherds crooks. The
angels We're Harriet Nutting, Grace
Blake, Lois Gum and Delphene An
dreWs. The two scenes in which thew
appeared were among the most beau
| tiful of the pageant
The shepherds then started on
their journey to find the holy child.
While they were on their way, Mrs.
Nettie johnson sang, What Means
Those Holy Voices" The shepherds
found and praised the child, and as
they returned, the chorus sang, Eye
Servants Of God, Your Master Pro-
claim
The men and women of Bethlehem
then came to praise the child. The
Vino 70
Flagg, Charles Lessor and George
Morse. The women were Mrs. Ar
thur Moore. Miss Helen Chadbourne
and Mrs. Ethel Lessor.
Then the wise men appeared, sing
ing we Three Kings of the Orient
Are All the costumes were oriental
and in keeping with the characters,
but those of the three wise men were
particularly beautiful, and their song
was very effective. John Kenneth
Turner. Harry Hamilton and Carroll
Stevens were the wise men.
Following the wise men a group
OF children and then group Of
| youths and maidens came to adore
the baby king. The children were
Ruth Johnson, Olive Cummings, Bar
bara Hamilton, Ruth Treworgy.
, Francis Wingate. Donald kellogg,
Bernard Holbrook apd Scott Ire
worgy. The youths were Velma Luz
| cas-, Aldana SprOul, Elizabeth CO.
burn, Frances Hall, Priscilla Hamil-
ton, Myron Lucas, John MacHardy
and Harold Harp. They sang effec-
lively Give Of Your Best to the
Master
Then the shepherds and angels re-
turned and all grouped themselves
most effectively for the final chorus
| and tableau, which was dramatic and
| beautiful At the offertory, John
Kenneth Turner sang "Hoiy City"
then Rev. Mr.. Bradford spoke the
lines of the prologue and dismissed
the congregation with the benedic
| ton.
Very great credit is due to Mr. and
| Mrs. Bradford who so painstakingly
| directed the production and to Miss
Ruth A. Written and Mrs. Nina Ire :
| worgy, who worked hard on the de-
| tails of arrangement. Lighting, cos
tunes, music, spoken parts, all went
well and blended into an extremely
| satisfactory whole. The church was
| crodded to the doors with an inter-
| ested audience.
|