Pageant.
The Walnut Grove pageant is very different from that held at De Smet. The use of radio microphones means the words of the actors can be heard as they say them. It also makes use of complicated and ingenious sets which can be pulled out of hangers and put up very quickly. Unlike the occasion at De Smet, there are no entertainments to keep the children happy until the play begins.
The pageant tells the story of Walnut Grove and it's inhabitants but of course centering upon the experiences of the Ingalls family. The story is the same as that told in the book, 'By the Banks of Plum Creek' with additional items from other sources. The dialogue is original presumably to avoid falling foul of copyright. There is a lot of humour interspersed throughout the play, most of it generated by the Olesen family in much the same way it was done in the TV series except some of it here was rather more slapstick. This in no way detracted from the rest of the play and was very amusing.
Apart from the amazing sets, several special effects were used, namely the prairie fire and the descent of the locusts. However it is Laura's story itself of strong community, strong faith in God and strong family bonds which is the real attraction. Just occasionally during the performance the lights were dimmed and it was possible to see the dark country sky, countless bright stars and hear the insects chirping. All these - at the same time as listening to Laura talking about her life - was pure magic.
Rocky Ridge Museum, Rocky Ridge House, Mansfield, Mansfield Cemetery
Kansas Prairie, Independence Kansas, Keystone South Dakota,
De Smet, Pa's Claim site, The Homestead, De Smet Cemetery, De Smet Pageant.
Tracy, Walnut Grove Museum, Plum Creek, Walnut Grove Pageant.
South Troy, Lake Pepin, Pepin Museum, Big Woods house.
Burr Oak, Ia., Vinton Iowa.
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