GOD ON THE STAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 194, 18 August 1930, Page 6

GOD ON THE STAGE.

The Lord Chamberlain has refused to grant a license lor the performance of Mr. Marc Connolly's play "The Green Pastures" in a public theatre (says a writer in the "Sunday Times"). "The Green Pastures," which has had a great success in New York, and which was published in this country some weeks ago, is an episodic play showing the Southern negro's conception of God and Heaven and his interpretation of the Old. Testament stories. God is shown as an oldfashioned negro pastor, Heaven is full of mischievous black cherubs, and ever and anon the seraphic hosts break into a spirituel. We -see the Almighty, a touching but dignified figure, moving amongst His darkie angels like a father who is loved and respected, too. We see Him coining down to earth to sorrow over the wickedness of Cain or succour Noah from, the Flood. We hear Him, speak tenderly, though it be in the quaintest of negro English, to his archangels, while Gabriel flutters affectionately around him as if he thought his Lord had taken too many troubles upon his shoulders. Finally, from the heavenly heights the Crucifixion is seen far off, and the curtain falls on the Divine acceptance of the sacrifice. It was not likely that this moving play would be licensed for public performance, since it is generally accepted in this country that the figure of the Deity shall not be presented on the stage. This, doubtless, is the reason for the Lord Chamberlain's veto. And as its production demands a large cast of coloured actors it stands little chance of performance by a private society. Mr. Maurice Browne, who submitted "The Green Pastures" to the Lord Chamberlain, recognises the difficulties -which, lie in, the way of its public production, and offers no criticism of Lord Cromer's decision, much as he regrets what he believes to be a sad loss to the English stage. Mr. Connolly's handling of the theme throughout the play is essentially reverent, and his intention is merely to show the sincerity and the childlike faith of" negro Christianity.