.C. ,_. .. w ., "X: '

First Mather Pagent 1952. Back How: John Bridal, Ole Sorensen, Jack Lloyd, Isma Foster, Art Mudge, Iva Mudge, Ron Lloyd, Nellie

 

Howard, Roy Groff. Third Row: Jessie Baudic, Dell Argue, Belle Vincent, Ruby Lloyd, Marion Thody, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Hopper, lda
Sorensen, Rene Winlaw, Jessie MacKintosh, Doreen Kilpatick, Dorothy Harris. Ken Howard, Jim Baudic, Verda Howard, Mac
Myall, Bill Taylor. Second Row: Elvira Schwarz, Tom Hyslop, Almer Winlaw, Blanche Drewry, Bob Kilpatrick, Elaine Vincent, Shirley
Drewry, Mary Hopper, Ernie Yake, Dean Robinson, Gayne Howard. Front Row: (seated) Lydia Schwarz, Linda Peters, Lloyd
Orniuk, Milton Turnbull, Pat Argue, Charlotte Groff, Blair Howard, Pete Jansen, Willie Schwarz, Edward Jansen, Henry Jansen, Flon

Thody

However. with the coming of spring and time to get to
work on the land, the Pageant was disbanded and the
costumes and properties packed away.

Then came 1967 — Canada's Centennial! Each
town planned celebrations at some time during the
year. so what would Mather do? Well. for one thing.
why not revive the Pageant? Verda and Mac again
collaborated to change the script into a Canadian

 

Mather Pageant 1967 “Fathers of Confederation”. Left to
Right: Ftoy Lees, Vernon Vincent, Lloyd Mayo, Hamson Lees,
Charlie Argue, Earl McLeod, John McLeod.

27

history. New scenes were added. although appropri-
ate scenes from the 1952 version were kept. A new
cast was recruited. some from the first Pageant but
most were a younger generation. Costumes and
properties were found. and with Marian Thody as the
narrator and Norma Redpath as the pianist, the Pag—
eant was back in business. It was presented in the
evening after the day’s celebrations.

Some memorable scenes were, “The Fathers of
Confederation" with Charlie Argue as Sir John A.
MacDonald: the birth of the Dionne Quintuplets with
T. S. Taylor as Oliva Dionne: the Indian and Fur
Trader with Jack Vincent and John Wiebe. This time
Norma Vincent was the “Lady that’s known as Lou”
and Norma Freeborn danced the Charleston.

The Pageant went on the road again, but not to the
extent the first one did. Everyone seemed much
busier. so again the Pageant was put to bed.

It didn‘t end here though, for along came Man-
itoba’s Centennial in 1970. Mather was making plans
for a big celebration. Once again the Pageant was
revived with script changes to make it a history of
Manitoba. The search was on for cast members,
singers. costumes and properties. This time a stage

9