Introduction to ‘mystery’ plays

Press, 21 December 1981, Page 16

Introduction to ‘mystery’ plays

Listening

The five-part drama series “The Image of God,” based on the English Medieval Mystery Plays, is being broadcast this week on the concert radio programme at 8 p.m. amd 9 p.m. David Buck, author of “The Image of God,” in the introductory 8.8. C. talk at 8 p.m. traces the development of religious drama. in England from its earliest beginnings to its full flowering. This was in the spectacular pageants organised by the tradesmen’s guilds on religious holidays until the “Mysteries” were finally condemned as frivolity at the time of the Reformation in the sixteenth century. The plays covered the whole of Christian mythology from the Creation to the Last Judgment and are the earliest surviving dramatic literature in the English language. David Buck’s new version in five parts in modern, colloquial English retains the liveliness of the originals and tries to

re-create the street-perform-ance atmosphere. The first play at 9 p.m. on 'Monday covers events from the Creation to Noah surviving the Flood. The Coming “Faith for Today” this week examines the four real comings of Christ: the incarnation, the sacramental, the community, and the personal. Father Charles Harrison interviews champions of each of the above modes as to what is meant, and its relation to the other three. “The Modes of His Coming” can be heard from Monday to Thursday, December 21 to 24 at 10 a’m. on the National programme. Beginnings Four Christmas talks will be broadcast on the National Programme at 8.45 each morning from Monday to Thursday of this week. Under the title “Beginnings,” the

series deals with the opening of the four Gospels. Professor Colin Gibsdn of Dunedin, who presents the series, writes: “The talks revolve around the birthday of the Child who, so the disciple John affirms, existed before all the beginning we can ever know, and who lives beyond every ending, to eternity itself.” Gieseking The twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of the vituoso German pianist Walter Gieseking (1895-1956) is being marked by a series of the pianist’s notable recorded performances on the Concert Programme. This Monday at 10 p.m. Gieseking can be heard playing Mozart — the K.3U Sonata No. 9 in D and the K. 396 Fantasia in C minor.