RELIGIOUS DRAMA

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28748, 20 November 1958, Page 7

RELIGIOUS DRAMA

Successful Festival The Christchurch Religious! Drama Society held its annual festival of one-act plays at the! Knox Church Hall last evening. [The festival was a highly-success-ful one, and it was obvious that | careful preparation had been made for it. Programmes of this kind 'depend for their effect upon the creation of atmosphere. On this occasion, in particular, the tone of the plays was felt to be both tranquil and inspiring. “The Beginning of the Way,*’ produced by Mrs E. Dingwall and Miss I. Pro van, was presented by , the St. Anne’s Drama Group. The ! play is a simple one; but the i action flows on smoothly, and I there are possibilities for lively 1 characterisation. These opportunii ties were taken more confidently, on the whole, by the male members of the cast. One thing that j made the St. Anne’s Group outstanding, however, was the pleasant speaking voices of the majority of those taking part. The second item was probably 1 i more familiar to students of the one-act play. “Martha and Mary" calls for varied acting and has its moments of refreshing humour.) It is set in a domestic interior, and • all the players concerned last; evening acted particularly well; together and even brought out several interesting contrasts. Jenny Russell produced “Martha and Mary” for the St. Matthew’s Drama Group. The judge. Mrs Neville Vincent, congratulated both groups upon their successful presentations. She felt herself unable to place one I group before the other, as the standard of merit in both was high. The festival concluded with a tableau. “The Wedding Ring," acted by the St. Thomas’s Group. —C.E.S.

Billy Graham Crusade

Tht' chairman of the South Island Billy Graham Committee <the Rev. R. Hart) will leave soon for Australia to get further in-j formation on the organisation of; the campaign. Mr Hart will also) stud. closely the work the Australian committees are doing. I At a meeting of the executive , recently, the following committee, chairmen were appointed: Prayer, I the Rev. L. S. Armstrong! coun-j selling, the Very Rev. Martin Sul-! livan: arrangements, Mr J J Calder: extension. Mr D. Laugc-i sen: publicity. Mr J. Collins:; ushers, Mr G. Joyce: young people. Mr D. Short; students, the Rev. P. Godfiard; reservations, Mr J. E. Davies: finance. Mr M. Common.

MINOR FIRES

Units from the Sumner and ; Woolston fire brigades attended a! fire on the premises of the Golden Bread Crumbs’ bakehouse at 202‘ Main road. Redcliffs, at 11.32 p.m.r yesterday. The roof of the bake-; house was slightly’ damaged. A. further call was received by units from Sumner and Woolston at 4.39 p.m. for a grass fire on the property of Mr C. Craddock, 14 1 Richmond Hill. The fire caused no l damage. Slight damage to cables in the Springs-Ellesmere Electric Power! Board’s sub-station at the corner; of Main South road and Halswelli; Junction road was caused by fire[ yesterday afternoon. Units of thei. Central Fire Brigade and Sock-L burn attended at 4.37 p.m.