Actors And Audience Persevere In Rain

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30688, 2 March 1965, Page 14

Actors And Audience Persevere In Rain

True to the theatrical dictum “the show must go on” the York Cycle of mystery plays was performed through 17 of its 22 scenes on the banks of the Avon river last evening.

The production was eventually called to a halt only after driving rain began fallingFor three hours beforehand a chilled-to-the-bone cast and a determined-to-see-it-through audience braved blustery wind and occasional showers to watch the religious spectacle. The stage director, Mrs P. Giddens, said it was decided to call the production off at the point where Christ was crucified. The actor who portrayed Christ, Jonathen Elsom, although clad only in a loin cloth was reported to have been very disappointed that the remaining four scenes were not to be continued. Mrs Giddens said that most of the audience stayed to the point where the production

terminated- Very few left. She added that by ending at the Crucifixion the production was complete in itself. Earlier in the evening, when temperatures dropped from the comfortable sixties to the cooler forties and when occasional showers began to fall, the large audience was informed that as long as it remained then the performance would go on. Noone left

At one stage in the production the character of Joseph drew unexpected laughter from the shivering audience when, in the Nativity scene as he looked about for wood for a fire, he muttered lines about “ ... the night is cold.”

While all was warm inside the Provincial Chambers where the actors and actresses made up, changed costumes and went over their lines, performers in the wings outside were earlier kept warm with coats and blankets placed around them.