Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-04-16
DETERMINE ON FINAL
EPISODES OF PAGEANT
indications Point TO Greatest Spectacle Ever Staged in
Any State or City of Countrywide of May %
TO rs Promises to Be Gala One

teo of the Virginia Historical Pa
Seant Tuesday night. the fnal out
line OF the episodes of tho perfor-
nance TO DO presented during the
week Seginning May 90 was settled
upon, and the complete HXt of six of
tho later scenes, submitted by the
author. Thomas Wood Stevens. was
approved.
The story OF the pageant is n series
of the great moments In tho history
OF Virginia. Tho performance Is to
begin with prologue at tho court
OF Queen Elisabeth, In which tho
name Virginia" is bestowed upon
the new land. This scene is written
in blank verse, and Includes an in
Eenious pantomimic masquc. or play
within play, to be performed largo
~ by dancing groups. The chief
speaking parts in the prologue are
those OF Queen Elizabeth. Sir Walter
Raleigh. Sir Francis Drake, the Earl
of SOUTHAMPTON. and the Spanish am
bassador
Following the prologue. the tone
or the play becomes more realistic,
and deals in very terse and con-
densed dialogue with the events OF
the Colonial period. The committee
has made the final choice OF these
events. First, the scene OF the land
ing at Jamestown. at which the box
containing the names OF the coun-
cilorE is opened. the site OF the set
Element decided. and Captain john
smith, brought ashore in chains. Is
sent up the James River with the
first explorers.
In Touch with Happenings.
Brief rythmic speeches from the
tower at the side of tho stage serve
TO keep the audience in touch with
happenings between the moments ac-
u a
Of historic sequence may not he lost
Tho second episode is Smiths cap
turc by OpcchancanouEh and rescued
from rowhatsn by Pocahontas. This
scene uses to the full! the peculiar
devices of the zone stage. 1t Is large
~ pantomime. and the words that are
spoken are almost all In the Algonquin |
tongue. not as II is known now by |
students of the Indian language, but |
as IL was known to Captain John |
Smith. and included BY him in his |
famous work on Virginia.
Probably the most powerful in
dramatic mood OF all tho scenes of
the Colonial neriod Is the third, deal
ing with the Starving Times" II is
followed by an idyllic note IN the
wedding OF Pocahontas. and this. in
turn, gives way 10 the First Assem-
bly,. This episode, dealing with the
beginning Of democracy in the New
World, is quiet, dignifed. and OF the
greatest political interest After il,
the voice from the tower exclaims:
Here was the hour-the first, the
mighty hour
That established on this soil the
rights OF men
To meet and choose, determine and |
resolve,
And SO a, length to govern. by con- |
sent,
And by tongues, alone. And from this |
meeting
Have grown al Congresses and |
States
MI government e. for our Amer
ica"
Massacre In Depicted.
\ more gay and romantic note fol- /
'ows. in the coming OF the III 8 ids. and |
homemakers; and again u tragic and /
violent one in the massacre scene |
OF lG22.
-~--+-~om the massacre, the pageant
%SoGs directly to Bscon's Rebellion.
which is treated in the Longest and |
most intricate action Of any single
episode OF the evening. Governor
Spotswood's Knights OF tho Horseshoe
provide a moment OF hearty old com
cdv. with an undercurrent Of larger
historical meaning. The scene of the
French and Indian War closes the
Colonial period.
The rebellion Is treated more brief
~. IT opens with. Fair!ch Ilenry's
famous speech In ST. JOINS Church;
This * swiftly followed by the events
OF The following year. the Bil Of |,
Rights and the instructions to the |
Virginia delegates TO vote In the |
Continental Congress for Indepcnd-
ancc.
a scene OF the revolution, next |
given. deals with George Rogers
clark's expedition which captured |
kaskaskIa aud Vinccuncs both then
N Virginia territory and saved the
Old Northwest 20 the unitcd States |
The revolution section closes with a |
military spectacle OF the Surrender AT |
yorktown. III which the ceremony Of |
the surrender il reproduced with
scrhFu!"us "SaCtucss. although the |
music committee has not vet located |
the famous tune 10 whscn the British. |
In accordance with ihc harsh" terms |
OF the capitulation. marched out to |
iay'doWn their arms
C"nfederncy is Treated.
THE Confcderacy is treated i'm four
episodes. beginning with tho Virginia |
Convention, and General Lees ar-
ceptance of the command Of the army. |
Following this will 10 another mill |