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Cast List<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n SISTER MARY is fatter than she should be. As head of the mission she is<\/p>\n used to having her own way. She has seen the ravages of war. Her eyes<\/p>\n are bright. When she walks her arms swing like metronomes. She wears a<\/p>\n grey habit to distinguish herself from the others, and black shoes that<\/p>\n come undone at unfortunate moments. She has a high sense of duty, which<\/p>\n saves her having to think too hard. She is about 53 and supremely<\/p>\n confident.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n FATHER SMITH is a gentle man who has given his life to teaching the<\/p>\n natives to read and write. He is much happier now that the accounts are<\/p>\n handled by SISTER MARY. He knows many jokes which the children love to<\/p>\n hear. Years of self-discipline have made him tolerant. When the nuns are<\/p>\n in trouble they often come to him because he will not reproach them. He<\/p>\n should be bald.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CAPTAIN JIM BATES used to command a minesweeper before he retired. He<\/p>\n wears his uniform all the time so he doesn\u2019t have to be physically<\/p>\n impressive. His hat is white. He has a wide, curly moustache which he<\/p>\n likes to stretch out to its full width if he thinks no-one is looking.<\/p>\n He smokes a pipe (pipes can be bought that use chalk dust). He\u2019s alright<\/p>\n if he has his own way.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n SISTER SHARON has a scottish accent. She is young and new to the island.<\/p>\n She blushes easily. Whenever she hears a distant ship she fingers her<\/p>\n crucifix. She is tall and thin which has given her a stoop. It\u2019s her job<\/p>\n to look after the youngest children.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ROSITA has still retained the local accent. The other women shun her<\/p>\n because she wears bright dresses and flowers. She never wears shoes or<\/p>\n swears, yet seems far more sophisticated than HYACINTH until she gets<\/p>\n excited when she is prone to fainting spells. Her falls must be<\/p>\n undramatic. Padding can be used on the hips and elbows if necessary.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n HYACINTH is blind. She was abandoned by her uncle and was adopted when<\/p>\n the missionaries arrived. She refuses to wear dark glasses. She has no<\/p>\n sense of humour, neither does she talk about her disability. She is<\/p>\n pale. She shares a room with ROSITA. In Act II, Scene 1 she wears a<\/p>\n grecian-type robe to narrate. It may be lilac or any other colour except<\/p>\n pink.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n MARIANNA is another refugee. She is beautiful, almost dancing as she<\/p>\n moves. She moves this way to hide her lameness. She dresses like the<\/p>\n locals. When she is the Madonna she wears a shawl and a white dress over<\/p>\n her normal clothes. She only has 4 lines but these have to be spoken<\/p>\n with great intensity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n FLORA is a refugee of about 13. She still wears children\u2019s clothes. She<\/p>\n is full of love but easily hurt. Often she is seen running from person<\/p>\n to person. She could be an angel.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n MR. EAGLEBURGER came over on the same boat as CAPTAIN JIM BATES and has<\/p>\n never left since. He wears suits that were once smart. He changes<\/p>\n whenever he is offstage. He never talks about his past except when he is<\/p>\n drunk. He refills his old gin bottle with home-made liquor and doesn\u2019t<\/p>\n believe in god very much.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n THE WOMAN is young but moves slowly. There is a sadness about her that<\/p>\n is rarely broken by a smile. She does everything meticulously. When she<\/p>\n drinks tea in ACT III, Scene 2 she takes regular sips. She looks down at<\/p>\n her feet when she talks. She has a loud laugh that embarrasses those she<\/p>\n is with.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n THE YOUTH is suffering from a wasting disease. He is thin and gentle and<\/p>\n wears a poncho that can easily be made from a grey woollen blanket. He<\/p>\n wears patched, tight jeans and may wear sneakers or sandals but is<\/p>\n always clean shaven. THE WOMAN loves him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n MEMBERS OF THE TABLEAU: The shepherds, the wise men and the happy couple<\/p>\n may design their costumes from Christmas cards or shop displays. One<\/p>\n king should have fair hair. Another should be African in appearance. A<\/p>\n doll can be used for the baby Jesus as long as it is fully wrapped. The<\/p>\n angels, (four will do), wear pink. The standard angel costume is used,<\/p>\n ankle length. If wings are used, beware of using inflammable tinsel.<\/p>\n Each angel needs a trumpet. These can be made from cardboard covered in<\/p>\n gold paper.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n