Putnam patriot., 1930-12-24
CROWDED AUDIENCES
 SEE NATIVITY PLAY
tcontinued From Page one)

drawn into the blue recesses, shad- owy figures watch with reverent in- tentness the unfolding of the scenes. The shepherds. gathering from far and near to warm themselves at the ire. and visit with their fellows, while the Masts., Shepherd keeps his watch on this mysterious night; these same shepherds stealing into the stable at Bethlehem. where Mary watches above the Manager; the de- parture of the shepherds; the great
 procession of the Kings of the Or
 tent :--some group of players is ever
 watching from behind the scenes. as intently as k the audience below. It
 is always SO.
 Here, before the play beg there
 is much quiet intercourse. There E no confusion. no disorder. There Is
 reminiscence of other seasons.
 Proud of Being Veterans
 Perhaps the players vie with each other in tales of the number of years they have taken. their parts. So much time as elapsed that re- membrance is little blurred. Whether Edward Arnold has been in every performance since 1912 can not be remembered. If so. he was originally an attendant upon the Wisemen. Lois Lake Ransome, who now takes the part of Mary. was once a tiny child angel playing a harp at the feet of Gabriel Miss Ransome's sister. Elizabeth, was then the Mary. and Mir. Ransome took the part of Joseph. Irving Emlott has taken his part for fifteen years. since he was a small lad. while Al- len Averill. has had his responsible role for aboaf that period. Miss Ash has been responsible for the music of the Nativity Play. as she has for % many other events for many, many years. and the Master Shep- herd has never failed of perform anee. Behind the scenes it IS felt that the Star m the East would not rise if th;s roughly clad figure failed to pace his watchful beat. Each and everyone of the players is essential to the picture behind the scenes; each is greeted with interest that grows from year to year.
 Incredible that the Angel of the Lord who for so many years has calmed and inspired the Shepherds, visited Mary; watched over the Man { ger. warning Joseph in dream: and. in short developed the golden thread of the lovely nes.-impossible thar | this role should change. But the play must go on. and if eircun stance prevents the creator of the part from taking that part. another must be raised up to do so.
 Tn Arthur Converse. g stranger to the strict until few weeks ago, such a Gabriel was found. With true l devotion to the cause he gave much time and hard work Go studying the pa1t.
 Neither in the audience nor in that group of actors on the stage was one to say that the part of Gabriel was not fulfilled. A Messenger at once ma iestie and of gentle sympathy auicted the shepherds. and pointed them the way to Bethlehem. and in chat faithful portrayal found well come in that group of actors welded together hy years together. as he
 found profound appreciation in the andience below. For the first time in the history of the play, a person not of the locality was chosen; but
 Arthur Converse. who devoted much
 time to studying this part, so beau
 tifully played. is no longer a strang CT to Pomfret.
 The New Shepherd The new shepherd. Ellis Pritch- l ard, was warmly welcomed into the ! fold. A very prevalent and convinc- ing shepherd was he. equipped with : sack of provisions. gourds of wa ter. and all sorts of utensils,--a very paragon of shepherds
 : Kenneth Graves was missed this } year from his role as attendant. The [ ranks of the Angelic Hosts were sadly thinned, but. in Louise Green. Allard Melbert. and Eda Piereey val liant recruits entered the field. and l now belong by right 10 the little ! band of whom the original three , were Marian Watson. Margaret : Green, and Beatrice Green. ! The loss of Warren Averill. a , splendid figure in the pageant, was : inestimable but the difficult role was ably played by Charles Swain, who , won well deserved plaudits. from , both audiences.
 Robert Arnold. as the young King , is ever touching in his magnificence, sacrificing all his splendor and pow CT in adoration before the Manager.
 Frank Chandler. who, as the first ' Wisemen, has for so many years | ushered in the other Kings os the : Orient plays his part with solemnity . and grandeur.
 , The character of Joseph has had { many portrayers none better than . tho present one, Alfred Briggs; and
 none a more essential part of this
 group now so firmly banded together
 for the annual production of the . Nativity Play of Pomfret. So. year after year, the story of ? the First Christmas. as 1t is enacted B n pemfret Hall. weaves it's reverent s spell upon the actors hidden in the
 dark blue shadows of the stage; and 2 they become. themselves, an audi n ence no less intent than the one be- [ yond the curtain.
 7 This year they would like to send F message to their audience beyond. :. IL Is this If you like these scenes Q from the first Christmas as much as !, we do. We are glad. We send you ? greetings, and wish you all the sea { sons joys.
 i FiREMEN OUT TWICE OVER THE WEEKEND