Academy of the Holy Angels - Echoes Yearbook (Fort Lee, NJ)

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V K FQXXX W! lain Angus lu uununnnn nun fm' X WP Q m x xxxmn 1 M fa . Q 6 r 5 -ff ECI-IOES i ,,5ffm Q 1.9-2.8 Q I A I . V I I 4' Q ' f' Lpgarrf ?j.? x x xxxuxxxnuuuuxu beggar clad in tattered garments frightens them for a moment. However, they bestow alms upon him, and immediately their charity is rewarded. The erstwhile beggar is transf formed into an angel who announces to them the good tidings of great joy. They listen to the story of the Babe in the manger, and then they also go forth to seek him. The scene of the last act is laid at Bethlehem in the cold, rough stable. We gazed upon the dear little Christ Child, wrapped in swaddling clothes and resting peacefully on the rough straw, we listened to Mary singing the Magniiicat, and we looked with love upon the gentle joseph as he stood in rapt admiration close to the manger. We envied the jewish family, the shepherds, and the Magi as they knelt there in close adoration. In the distance we saw the Angel Choir, and their sweet Gloria in Excelsis Deo brought the drama to a successful and realistic finis as we knelt in spirit at the crib of Christ the King. 'CLAIRE R. Pol-ILY, '28 91

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4 4 if ECHOES i t-.ff al l 1-9'Q,'8 A I r 1202 M3215 We N I Iilllllfll lllllllllllllh Dramatics At the Crib of Christ the King To the junior Class was entrusted the task of producing the annual Yuletide enter' tainment. The play was a real Christmas drama connected with the Nativity of the Christ Child, and was entitled At the Crib of Christ the King. The cast of characters was as follows: The Blessed Virgin St. joseph . King Herod , . Attendants at the Court Miriam I Esther jewish Maidens Ruth Benjamin, Their Brother Their Grandmother . The Announcing Angel The Magi . The Shepherds. Angel Choir . , MARGARET BREHM CARMEN SUSSMUTH MARION MERWIN I GLADYS HEMMING ICARMEN SUSSMUTH MARGARET KANE GLADYS HEMMING CATHERINE BROCK MARGARET SLOAT CHARLOTTE PAGLIUGHI . SUSAN SWEENEY f NANO DALY 4 ANNA PELEY L CATHERINE SULLIVAN HELEN ALLEN DOROTHY MURPHY JENNIE PORPORA GILDA TRAINA SENIOR CLASS The play was divided into four acts. The curtain rose first upon the shepherds tending their flocks upon the judean plains. Suddenly they are astonished at the sight of an angel who brings them the joyful tidings of the birth of Christ the King. In reverential awe they follow the angel to the Cave of Bethlehem, and there worship the newfborn King. The second act brings us to the Court of Herod, Roman ruler of the Jews. He is visited by the Magi on their journey to Bethlehem in search of the Infant King. Herod is alarmed on hearing them inquire for Him Who is born King of the jews. This scene was made very impressive by the presence of court attendants in rich attire, while at the same time an air of gaiety was lent to it by the graceful little dancers who are called in to dance before the king and to banish the unrest that has seized upon him. In the third act We End ourselves in the simple home of a benevolent jewish family. The children, Miriam, Esther, Ruth, and Benjamin, beg for a story from their old grand' mother. She narrates for them the neverfold tale of Tobias and the Hsh. The arrival of a 90

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i ' ax .21 ECI-IOES s ig, 3,53 ,, 1.9.QI. 3 is , 1, ' , 2 5 9 f I W 'ff' 'l f'f4 i f A xxnxxx k.,. nxxmwxnuuxxxwx The Sacred Ray To our great joy we were told that this year a Lenten drama was to be given and that to us the honor of producing it would fall. Immediately we entered into the spirit of it and resolved upon doing our best. The time allotted for practice was rather short, but perhaps there was an advantage in that, for we knew that if it was to be a success, great effort must be put into it. - The play chosen was a Biblical one, called The Sacred Ray, an original dramatizaf tion by a former H. A. class of the book entitled The Ray. The part of Gamaliel, a member of the Sanhedrin, was skilfully rendered by Grace Christ, while the role of Susanna, the sister of Gamaliel, was entrusted to the dramatic powers of Margaret Eisenmann. Very real, indeed, seemed the struggle of the former against the conviction constantly thrusting itself upon him that the Christus was in very truth the promised Messiah. With equal earnestness did Susanna plead with her brother to accept and acknowledge his faith in the Divinity of the Nazarene. Eleanor Hennessy and Alice Decker did justice to the parts of Nicodemus and joseph of Arimathea, respectivef ly. It was easy to see that they put their best efforts into the work as they eloquently defended the cause of the Master. The gentle Rachel fa friend of Susannal was splendidly portrayed by Helen'Oliva whose voice and personality were well suited to the part. To Mary Farrell was assigned the part of Miriam fanother friend of Susannaj, and her prof tecting friendship acted as a splendid foil to the childlike love of Susanna for her two friends. Irene Dowling impersonated Pilate, and displayed a calmness and dignity in striking contrast to the mob of frenzied jews who clamored for the death of the just One. How the sentence of death could have been passed by Pilate was hard to under' stand after the clever bit of acting by Inez Cavinato Cas Claudia, the wife of Pilatej in which she pleaded eloquently and almost passionately that the life of the Master be spared. The role of Mary Magdalen was taken by Claire Pohly, and the pathos of her part reached a climax in the solo, Friend of Sinners. The parts of the other two Marys were played by Angela Bodet and Eleanor Hennessy, and a particularly striking and pathetic scene was that in which the three Marys, after their return from Calvary, sang a very touching and beautiful trio. The parts of the Holy Women were taken by Delia Keating, May Peley, Helen Sella, Helen Seuferling, and Loretta Trainor. A striking tableau of the Crucifixion was presented, and another, of the Resurrection with Helen Sella as the Christ, furnished a fitting climax to this inspiring drama. 1CLAIRE R. POHLY, '28 92