Part 4
Joy to the world! The Lord is come, Let earth receive her King, Let every heart prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
He rules the world with truth and grace. And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, and wonders of His love.
The music changes to the same processional to which they entered. The chorus, with lighted tapers held high, pass down the aisle and away, singing as they go.
_Adeste Fideles._
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning, Jesus, to Thee be all glory given: Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing: O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
The “Amen” is heard way in the distance. The tableau is ended.
SETTING
Across the width of the stage is a dark curtain which hangs in deep folds. It opens in the center on a space wide and deep enough to stage each of the three pictures. Across the back of this space there should be a dark, midnight-blue, starry background against which each picture is set.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PICTURES
The Three Wise Men
The first picture is of the Three Wise Men on their way to Bethlehem. They are dressed in oriental robes and turbans. The first carries a pot of gold; the second, a jeweled casket filled with frankincense; the third, an incense holder filled with myrrh. As the curtains part, they enter from the right. Their gaze is fixed on a great light which streams from off-stage, left, on their upturned faces. They move slowly across the stage and toward the light as they sing “We Three Kings of Orient Are.”
The Angel and the Shepherds
The second picture is of the Shepherds watching their flocks by night. When the curtains part, two shepherds are seated at the right of the picture, half reclining against a rock. At their feet another lies asleep. A little to the left-center of the picture, two others are stretched on the ground. Suddenly there is a great light off-stage, at the left, and an angel robed in white appears from the direction in which the light comes. The shepherds sink back in fear and awe. The angel raises her left hand in token of peace, and turning toward the light, points with her right hand toward Bethlehem, where the Christ is born. The shepherds gaze a moment and then start to rise and follow, as the angel moves away in the direction of the light.
The Nativity
The last picture is the Nativity of the Manger. In the center sits Mary bending over the Christ Child. Behind her stands Joseph. Kneeling in front of her and a little to her left are the Three Wise Men, to her right the same shepherds to whom the angel appeared. The Wise Man at the extreme right of the picture stands with bowed head; the other two, at his left, kneel, one with outstretched hands, the other with head and shoulders bent low. At the extreme left of the picture a stalwart shepherd leans upon his staff, his gaze fixed in wonder upon the Child. At his right, one companion kneels; the others are prostrated on the ground. All the light in the picture seems to radiate from the Child, casting a beautiful radiance on the face of the Virgin. The figures stand immovable, wrapped in worshipful awe, as the choir sings “Sleep, Holy Child.”
Transcriber’s Note
Perceived typographical errors have been changed.