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Plot
Jan van Bol, an elderly American artist of Dutch descent, famous as a painter of landscapes, dreams of knocking at the gates of heaven, only to have Saint Peter tell him he has never painted anything to honor his Creator, who gave him his talent.
When he wakes, van Bol vows to undertake a series of paintings on the life of the Christ, starting with his birth in Bethlehem. He asks his sister Margaretha to read from the Bible all the passages that record the holy event.
As Margaretha reads, the Virgin Mary, Joseph, and many other biblical characters mentioned (and some who are not) appear on stage in a series of mini-scenes.
Then van Bol, working day and night, "paints" these persons on his enormous canvas. He depicts the shepherds, the host of angels, the three kings, all gathered in the Bethlehem stable to adore the Christ Child and to present Him gifts. Van Bol calls his painting The Adoration.
Characters
Margaretha van Bol, a well educated, devout lady of Philadelphia, sister of Jan van Bol.
Jan van Bol, a famous American landscape artist, well advanced in years.
Katie, a maid in the van Bol household.
Saint Peter
A Roman Senator
Caesar Augustus
Joseph
Mary
Ahab, Bethlehem innkeeper
Athaliah, the innkeeper's wife
Jethro, a shepherd
Ezra, a shepherd
Jonathan, son of Jethro
Joel, son of Ezra
Angel of the Lord
Host of angels (not less than 7)
King Herod
Herod's Advisor, Amariah
Chief Priest, Ahijah
Kaspar, king of Tarshish and the Isles of the Sea
Balthasar, king of Sheba
Melchior, king of Seba
Christ Child (a baby two or three months old)
Costuming and Scenery
The reader will have noted many specific staging instructions in reading through this play. In places where the Angels have speaking parts in unison, appropriate singing may be substituted, depending on the singing talents of specific performers and available instrumentation. Suitable music may be found by downloading the play, "Dear Caesar Augustus."