Cast List
SISTER MARY is fatter than she should be. As head of the mission she is
used to having her own way. She has seen the ravages of war. Her eyes
are bright. When she walks her arms swing like metronomes. She wears a
grey habit to distinguish herself from the others, and black shoes that
come undone at unfortunate moments. She has a high sense of duty, which
saves her having to think too hard. She is about 53 and supremely
confident.
FATHER SMITH is a gentle man who has given his life to teaching the
natives to read and write. He is much happier now that the accounts are
handled by SISTER MARY. He knows many jokes which the children love to
hear. Years of self-discipline have made him tolerant. When the nuns are
in trouble they often come to him because he will not reproach them. He
should be bald.
CAPTAIN JIM BATES used to command a minesweeper before he retired. He
wears his uniform all the time so he doesn’t have to be physically
impressive. His hat is white. He has a wide, curly moustache which he
likes to stretch out to its full width if he thinks no-one is looking.
He smokes a pipe (pipes can be bought that use chalk dust). He’s alright
if he has his own way.
SISTER SHARON has a scottish accent. She is young and new to the island.
She blushes easily. Whenever she hears a distant ship she fingers her
crucifix. She is tall and thin which has given her a stoop. It’s her job
to look after the youngest children.
ROSITA has still retained the local accent. The other women shun her
because she wears bright dresses and flowers. She never wears shoes or
swears, yet seems far more sophisticated than HYACINTH until she gets
excited when she is prone to fainting spells. Her falls must be
undramatic. Padding can be used on the hips and elbows if necessary.
HYACINTH is blind. She was abandoned by her uncle and was adopted when
the missionaries arrived. She refuses to wear dark glasses. She has no
sense of humour, neither does she talk about her disability. She is
pale. She shares a room with ROSITA. In Act II, Scene 1 she wears a
grecian-type robe to narrate. It may be lilac or any other colour except
pink.
MARIANNA is another refugee. She is beautiful, almost dancing as she
moves. She moves this way to hide her lameness. She dresses like the
locals. When she is the Madonna she wears a shawl and a white dress over
her normal clothes. She only has 4 lines but these have to be spoken
with great intensity.
FLORA is a refugee of about 13. She still wears children’s clothes. She
is full of love but easily hurt. Often she is seen running from person
to person. She could be an angel.
MR. EAGLEBURGER came over on the same boat as CAPTAIN JIM BATES and has
never left since. He wears suits that were once smart. He changes
whenever he is offstage. He never talks about his past except when he is
drunk. He refills his old gin bottle with home-made liquor and doesn’t
believe in god very much.
THE WOMAN is young but moves slowly. There is a sadness about her that
is rarely broken by a smile. She does everything meticulously. When she
drinks tea in ACT III, Scene 2 she takes regular sips. She looks down at
her feet when she talks. She has a loud laugh that embarrasses those she
is with.
THE YOUTH is suffering from a wasting disease. He is thin and gentle and
wears a poncho that can easily be made from a grey woollen blanket. He
wears patched, tight jeans and may wear sneakers or sandals but is
always clean shaven. THE WOMAN loves him.
MEMBERS OF THE TABLEAU: The shepherds, the wise men and the happy couple
may design their costumes from Christmas cards or shop displays. One
king should have fair hair. Another should be African in appearance. A
doll can be used for the baby Jesus as long as it is fully wrapped. The
angels, (four will do), wear pink. The standard angel costume is used,
ankle length. If wings are used, beware of using inflammable tinsel.
Each angel needs a trumpet. These can be made from cardboard covered in
gold paper.
Tim Love‘s poetry pamphlet Moving Parts was published in 2010 by HappenStance. His prose pamphlet By all means was published by Nine Arches Press in 2012. He blogs at litrefs.blogspot.com