Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-12-25
The Other Wise Man
To Be Presented
Tomorrow Night
YuIe Ceremonial Will
Be Given at Luther
Place Church

When the Schubert Singers send
their first notes through Luther
Place Memorial Church tomorrow
night, an unusual Christmas cere-
monial will have begun its 18th
series of presentations.
About 16 years ago, Miss BesS
Davis Schreiner mentioned to her
Sunday school class she thought DR..
Henry Van Dykes story, THE Other
Wise Man." would be desirable
subject for dramatization. She had
been accustomed to read the tale
aloud to the class.
A member of the group, Miss Ruth
Shoemaker, joined with DR.. George
M. Diffenderfer, then pastor of the
church, in demanding something be
done about staging the story the
next season. That is how Miss
Schreiner came to prepare drama
tized version of 1.-The Other Ver-
sion"
Her work pleased DR.. Van Dyke
and he gave permission for public
performance, but only if done under
her direction. Despite the fact the
author later produced his own stage
treatment, he continued to author
lie the performance of Miss Schrein-
er's version here.
COnnell Plays Title Role.
The title role was played for the
first two years by Walter Beck, star
of the then-flourishing Rams Head
Players. Thereafter, the part was
taken by Denis Connell. Mr.. Con-
nell, who is assuming the task again
this season, has portrayed Artaban,
the Median, each year, with the ex-
ception of three, since he first played
the role.
Recalling the early days of 1.-THE
Other Wise Man." before it became
Yuletide institution, Miss Schrein-
er remembers with appreciation the
stalwart services of the late Rev.
Earle Wiley of National City Chris
tian Church and DR.. Clifton P.
Clark of Mount Vernon Place
Church.
A large cast is utilized in present.
ing THE Other Wise Man." but
much of the success it has enjoyed
is attributed to the efforts of a small
guild, the members of which have
returned year after year.
Responsible throughout the Is
years for the intricate system of
lighting cues have been Miss Shoe
maker and Harold Snyder. Nina
Norman has been prominent in the
cast for all but five seasons. Also
contributing long and distinguished
service have been persons we'll
known in local theatrical circles in |
Guiding Thomas M. Cahill, Eugene
Kressin, VERIFY Pannill Rowzie, j. |
Edmond Veitch and Hugh c. Smith.
Smith.
Miss Riggs Is Narrator.
The only narrator has been Miss
Katherine Riggs.
The presentation is not a mere
play, 1.-The Other Wise Man." as Of
fered in Luther Place Memorial
Church, combines music, drama and
a religious message in an inspiring
setting. This, Miss Schreiner feels,
is why it's continued presentation
has been demanded and expected.
Conducive to a reverent mood is
the carol concert and orgran pro-
gram of music of many peoples,
much of it cleaned from Library !,
of Congress files. Then there is
the ceremony of the offertory, and,
finally the Christmas story, played
with soft lights and soft music and
with actors making numerous en-
frances and exits through the
audience.
Tertius Van Dyke, son of the late
author, has notified Miss Schreiner
he intends to be present at one of
the performances this season. The
program, opening with carols, will
start at 7:45 o'clock tomorrow night
and at the same hour on Wednes-
day, Thursday and Friday nights.
AS usual, Miss Schreiner will be
in the choir loft, trying to keep
watchful eyes and attentive ears on
all of her players at once. !