Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-12-28
GREAT PAGEANT
AT CHRISTIAN
CHURCH SUNDAY

The pageant of the Heavenly Host,
one of the best Christmas pageants
ever published, was presented at the
| Christian church Sunday night.
| The stage settings were simple, in
tended merely to indicate, rather than
actually to represent, the different To-
cations. Much of the quiet beauty of
the pageant was due tot an unseen
readers introduction of each scene
with the Biblical narrative, the action
| and conversation on the stage being
limited to just sufficient movement to
convey the thought expressed by the
! reading.
Appropriate lighting effects under
charge of M. J. Arnold ranged from the
deep blue of night in the shepherds
scene to the prismatic play of amber,
red and purple combinations on the
angel choruses.
Each actor was in costume suited to
the character portrayed, from the rag
ged clothes of the shepherds to the
velvet robes of the wise men and the
chain mail of their servants.
me pOrITayaI OI NIdOTlel ny INOpSl L
Hohstadt was excellent, both in voice
and manner. Mrs. r. Meadows, as Mary,
brought sympathetic bit of realism
in her acting and sang the Song Of
Mary" and the "Magnificat" in voice
rarely surpassed. While the parts Of
Gabriel and Mary were especially long
and difficult, every character was
creditably presented.
Following is a synopsis of the pa.
geant:
piano Prelude = Light and Dark
ness"
Scene 1.
Prologue. - Gabriel declares to the
angels that the time for the coming Of
the Messiah approaches and announces
his mission to Zachariah.
Solo-"The Word Becometh Flesh"
Chorus.-"In the Beginning"
Scene O.
zachariah in the Temple.-Gabriel
appears to zacharias, who is stricken
dumb for failure to believe the prom
ised birth of John.
Temple Chant. V. Hammond, IL
turgist
Scene 3.
Annunciation-Th scene opens with
Mary in her home singing the Song
of Mary" Gabriel enters, tells of the
coming birth of Christ and disappears,
leaving Mary overwhelmed with the
tidings.
Piano nterlude-"Adoration
Scene A.
Nlgnificat-Mary visits Elizabeth,
and after greeting her bursts out into
song.
Scene 5.
A descriptive reading of. the COM
forting appearance of the angel to
Joseph.
"The Despairing Cry of 1srael."-By
the choir.
Scene 6.
Shepherds. The shepherds asleep,
awakened by an increasing light, cul-
minating in the flashing of the Star.
Gabriel appears and gives word of the
birth of Jesus Angels gather around
and sing "Glory to God In the High
est shepherds visit and worship the'
babe in the manger, departing singing,
For Unto Us Child Is Born"
Scene Z.
Presentation-Mary and Joseph bring,
the infant to the priest at the temple
door for the customary blessing. ST.
neon and Anna enter and bless par
ents and child. At the close of this
scene is heard the cry of the Wise
Men searching for their king.
Scene 8.
The Wise Men.-Mary and Joseph at
home surrounded by an angel chorus,
are visited by the Wise Men and their
servants, who present gifts and retire
singing their Rejoicing"
Scene 8.
The Encamping Angels-Mary and
Joseph fall asleep under thei angel
voices singing "The Angel of the Lord
Encampeth' An angel messenger
awakens Joseph, who in turn arouses
Mary. While preparing for flight the
angels sing "He Shall Give His Angels
Charge" accompanying Mary's obli-
cato of 1He That Dwelleth In the Sc
cret Place" After their departure the
angels assemble on stage and sing the
final Chorus of Praise"
Characters. - Gabriel, Robert Hoh-
stadt; Zacharias, E. r. Hooper Priest,
Harry Young; Joseph, r. G. Arnold;
Simeon, S. p. Lewis; Mary Mrs Russell
NAeadows; Elizabeth, Mrs. L. d. Nc
Cartney; Anna, Miss Eva Chustnut;
shepherds, Wise Men and servants, j.
w. Deeming, Edward Plack, Franklin
Clark, Kenneth Adamson, Jack Deem
ing and Albert Shupbach.
Angels of Time and Pface.-Lavena
Pattison and Luella Boss.
Angel of Joy.-Lucille Glenn
Angel of Peace,-Annie Laurie Davis.
Angel of Song-Ruth Wills.
Angel of Prophecy Ethel May Rog-
ers.
Angel Messenger.-Edi Rogers.
Other Angels = Helen Arnold, Cor
rinne Jones, Mamie Pattison, Frances
johnson, Iris Cosper, Gwendolyn Ew-
ing, Ruth Miller, Rose Hohstadt, Lou
ise Boxer, Thelma Wease, Lorine Boyd.
Orchestra of Christian Church,.
" Hammond, leader; Albert Schubach,
Jay Shannon, Norman Carter, Max
Burt. Pianist, Miss Kate Brewer, as
sisted by Mrs. L. shannon.
Soloists-Mrs. Russell Meadows and
A. W. Cotton.
Iiturgist-L. V. Hammond.