The Servant of the Kings should be dressed on the same lines, but without mantle or train.
Gaspar should be bearded and browed with grey; all four persons should be heavily stained on face and hands.
A suitable stain may be obtained from Mr. Peck, chemist, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, such as is used in the “Greek Play” at the University.
The beards used should not be the ordinary beards made in a piece. Hair should be obtained from a theatrical property shop, and affixed piece by piece with strong spiritgum. For those who wear beards a few lines upon the face are generally necessary to blend the complexion with the hair.
IV. THE METHOD OF ACTING
It must be remembered that the play does not attempt realism. It is full of deliberate anachronisms. To act, then, in a realistic manner would be to appeal to the eye in one key and to the dramatic perception in another. It was found therefore necessary during the rehearsals to insist again and again upon a certain conventionality in gestures and tones of voices. The actors were encouraged to be slow, to speak extremely clearly, and to make large deliberate gestures rather than spontaneous movements—to beckon, for instance, with the arm rather than the hand. (This method was, of course, that followed in the recent performances of “Everyman.”) On these lines it was found that the play occupied slightly over two hours.
Especially necessary was this system in the case of such characters as those of the “Herald,” “Mary,” “Joseph,” and the “Three Kings.” The “Herald,” standing outside the curtains, holds himself perfectly upright for the most part. When he bows, he bows low with both hands across the breast; when he signs himself with the cross, he slowly “envelops” himself [as M. Huysmans says] in his movement. The appeal of “Mary” also depends entirely (since she does not speak) upon extremely slow, dignified movements. When she swoons she remains motionless, sunk upon herself; when she moves, she does so with extreme deliberation; she looks for a long time at the character to whom she directs herself, before moving in his regard.
In the same manner, “Joseph” is lost always in a contemplation of “Mary”; his eyes are fixed on her; he keeps the same attitude for long together.
So, too, with the “Three Kings.” They carry themselves extremely upright, they make sweeping gestures, they chant rather than speak, they bow and genuflect slowly and profoundly. The “Children” only are allowed to be spontaneous, without being abrupt.
The character of “Zachary” is the most difficult of performance. He has to avoid prosiness on one side and passion on the other; “deliberateness” must be his watch-word. I am afraid he is rather a tiresome person; but he is as necessary as the Greek chorus, to whom he corresponds. He appears less tiresome if he is represented by a very tall actor who carries himself bent.