Putnam patriot., 1924-12-19
POMFRET NATIVITY
 PLAY SUNDAY EVG
An Annual Community Cele- bration That Has Become
 Celebrated
Stead. Aie.s Amsss ckris,uss Fes
 tivitiss Ia U. 5.

This week the metropolitan papers are celebrating The Tree of Light that, for years. has been New Works great community celebration. In 1911 the great tree was first lighted on Madison Square. Since then it has not failed to take root there annu- ally. Here. vast crowds have gather cd for community singing, Here the spirit of Christmas has reached out to the many races, sects, social class es and creeds that go to make up Americas greatest city.
 The same year that originated this Tree of Light originated The Pomfret Nativity Play, that. in spite of It's 'emoteness. in spite of the fact that Is scene Is one of the greatest pos dhle contrast with New York, has become. perhaps. more widely .amed that The Christmas Tree of Madison Square.
 Inquiries From Altar
 From practically every state in the Union, from Hawaii. and. occasion. lally, from Europe. have come inquir- ies as to details of presenting these scenes from the Nativity. that make Pomfret's Christmas celebration.
 Each year the play is presented in some one of our magazines, and most of our great newspapers. The De. lineator for December. in summing up the story of the play says.
 Without any doubt this pomfret spectacle. in it's impressive beauty, and in the fact that it is community enterprise, stands alone among Christmas festivities in the United States"
 Martha candler in btr book on Religious Drama gives much space Co this play. and says that in the move ment towards the revival of some thing to represent the old mystery play the Pomfret Nativity play has approached most nearly to the ach. ievement of the spirit of those plays.
 Actors Merged h Character.
 This is the result of the earnestness with which every player of part en- ters into the portrayal of that part. The cast of characters is demanded by every paper that features this cele- bration. There k no possible objee- ton to giving it. In this community ii is pretty well known, as it remains so far as possible unchanged from year to year. But to those associated with the play, this stating of the names of the players seems but sur face mntter, because the actors cease SO completely Co be themselves, and merge themselves so successfully into their parts.
 The Master Shepherd strangely aware that this night Is not as other nights he has kept watch, paees in the background, while his band gather about fire on the ground. Actuality slips away. and the great event alone makes itself felt,
 The Nisemen have become three we'll defined types one the ruler Of a simple people. who finds at Bethlehem q prophecy fulfilld: one, dreamer of dreams, poet, who sees here his vision realized and one. a great and mighty potentate, who beh0lds A power greater than his own, and sym bolizes this by laying his crown at the feet of the infant King. The attendants, the choir of Angels, the Angelic Messenger. the dignity and soiemnity of Joseph in the shadows near the manager, and. finally, the figure of Mary at the foot of the manger,.-surely this is important rather than the names of those who play their parts.
 Sunday Evening Before Christmas
 Such Is the Nativity Play presented annually on the Sunday evening be- fore Christmas in Pomfret. country side not unlike Judea in the days Of Herod the king
 The play will be given in Pomfret Hall on Dee. 21st at o'clock. There is no admission. Every one Is invit- ed. Only those who can be seated wiil be admitted to the hall, but a second, and, if necessary third per formanee will follow in sequence until all who have come shall have seen it. A. .k. ..tttal parfarmuurp af the