PAGEANT, a show or spectacle. In the mediaeval drama the word was used in the sense of a scene, a division or part of a play. Thus we read of Queen Margaret in 1457 that at Coventry she saw "alle the pagentes pleyde save domesday which myght not be pleyde for lak of day," and in the accounts of the Smiths' gild at Coventry for 1450, five pence is paid "to bring the pagent into gosford-stret." A clear idea of what these stages were like when the mystery plays became processional (processes) that is, were acted on separate platforms moving along a street is seen in Archdeacon Roger's contemporary account of the Chester plays about the end of the 16th century. "The mane of these playes weare, every company had his pagiant, or parte which pageants weare a high scafolde with 2 rowmes, a higher and a lower, upon 4 wheeles" T. Sharp, Dissertation on the Pageants or Mysteries at Coventry, 1825, which contains most of the early references.
production as differentiated from play production offers the problem of outdoor distances, sunlight and shadow on colour, and the timing and marshalling of large num bers of people. Such problems should be given usually into the hands of an experienced director. Often, however, they are turned over to a committee of capable townsfolk.
The site should preferably be a natural amphitheatre, bordering if possible, on a lake or river. The ground should be gone over for its acoustics, a forest background being an asset. Other con
siderations are accessibility by train, tram and motor, room for parking space, a relative area of open space for stage and audi ence, practical entrances and exits, beauty of landscape, and room behind the outdoor stage for dressing tents and gathering places for players. An ideal site has the sun in back of the audience and a prevailing wind to blow from players to spectators, thus carrying words toward the hearers.
Administrative details are usually in the hands of a group of representative citizens. The actual labour, making of costumes and properties, gathering of antiques, is all done by the towns folk. An even distribution of work and a competent executive are necessary. Often a historic pageant is accompanied by a loan exhibition of old costumes, relics, historic furniture, books, maps, household possessions and everything pertaining to the past and nresent of the rnmrnimitN7 The singing should be done by citizens, though band or or chestra may be imported. The latter, for outdoor acoustics, should be sizable. The former needs the addition of stringed instruments for softer effects. All possible effects of light, colour, movement and sound should be synchronized and used to their utmost. A liberal time for writing and planning, an abundance of group rehearsals and three complete rehearsals should make an artistic and successful pageant.