Fancy that! How wonderful! A Christmas carol on the gramophone! So all the future ages will be sure To know exactly what religion was. To think we cannot hear it! Well, no matter, These plums are excellent. Everybody's gone. To think I was the fittest, after all! Come, Rada, you're pretending! [He accidentally starts the gramophone working and jumps back, a little alarmed. He runs to the door and knocks.] Rada! Rada! I've started it! Subka! Subka! Do you hear? The gramophone's working! [He stoops down and looks at the floor again. The artillery booms like a thunder peal in the distance. Then the gramophone drowns it with the deep voices of the monks, a great chorus, singing ADESTE, FIDELES! NANKO dips his finger in something on the floor and stares at it. A look of horror comes into his face. He stands with his mouth open, listening.] It's true!
CAST
of the first performance at the Christmas (1913)
Festival of THE MACDOWELL CLUB
OF NEW YORK CITY
RADA
A Drama in One Act by Alfred Noyes
(A Christmas Tragedy of the Balkans, being a plea for "Peace on earth, good will toward men.")
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PERSONS OF THE PLAY
RADA, wife of the vilage doctor, Miss Mirzah Cheslir
SUBKA, her daughter, aged twelve, Miss Lenore Phelps
ARRAM, } two hostile soldiers quartered Mr. Henry Hull
MICHAEL,} on her house in time of war Mr. Wright Kramer