MYSTERY PLAY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 17, 19 December 1927, Page 3

MYSTERY PLAY

BY ALL SAINTS’ BIBLE CLASS'. GIRLS. The Alystery Play, as produced by All Saints’ Biblo class girls on Saturday evening in tho Opera House, provided entertainment which is rarely seen outside of the Old World, but which is most appropriate to this season of the year. In England of late years there has been a revival of these old-time mystery plays. The one produced on Saturday night was the first of its kind in Now Zealand, and it is hoped that this form of teaching will be further developed in our town in the future. The tableaux, with their living models, conveyed truths to the onlooker in a manner which revived memories perhaps long dormant. The girls had in the lady producer one who knew that the theme, produced as it was by them in such artistic settings,’ would appeal to all and renew afresh the historic event in their memory, it can be said of the actors in the Chris'.-' ams story that they were thoroughly in earnest and treated the subject with dignity and reverence. The whole entertainment was given in three distinct ways—actors, invisible chorus and invisible reciter of the Gospel story. Those representing Eastern characters wore costumes obtained from Palestine, giving a picturesque and realistic touch to the scenes. The white robes worn by the “Aladonna” . were chosen to typify the purity " and grace of her character. The softly falling draperies of the 20 girls who appeared in the angel scene and the beautiful whiteness and radiance thereof were a striking picture and formed a fitting finale to the concluding scene. The tableauxvivant were arranged in the following order:—(l) The Aladonna kneeling in prayer receiving the Spiritual me..-] sage; (2) meeting or Alary and Elizabeth in the house of Zaclmrias; (3) shepherds asleep in the fields awaking in awe at the sight of the angels appearing before them; (4) the Aladonna with the child Jesus in the manger and shepherds kneeling in humble adoration ; (5) the presentation in the temple, the aged Simeon and Anna receiving the child, the mother’s purification with the sacrificial offering of a pair of doves; (6) Joseph’s dream, in which an angel appears, three wise men dressed as kings, appear before King Herod, seen on liis throne, and giving the order for the slaughter of all the infants in Bethlehem; (7) the adoration of tho Alagi (here the Child Jesus is seen in the manger with the mother receiving the gifts of frankincense, etc.; (8) finale, the adoration by the whole of the company, who gather round the Alother and Child with the company of angels making an impressive scene.

The incidental music was directed by Mr J. Holmes Runnicles, assisted by All Saints’ choir. Tho solo, “Oh, Come Let Us Adore Him,” with chorus and the hymn, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” in the finale was very effective. Rev. G. W. Dent gave an impressive rendering of the Scriptural recitatives.

Tho musical programme was as follows:—Tenor solo, “Comfort Ye,” from the “Alessiah” ; hymn, “Blest are the Pure in Heart” ; recitative, “Behold a Virgin”; solo,. “Ave Alaria” ; recitative, “There were. Shepherds” ; solo, “I Waited for the Lord” ; solo, “Nunc Dimittis” ; quartette, “Cast Thy Burden” ; chorus, “He is Watching Over Israel” ; chorus, “For Unto Us a Child is Born” ; solo and chorus, “Oh, Come All Ye Faithful” ; finale, chorus, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” It is sincerely hoped by all who were present on Saturday evening that this fine effort of All Saints’ Bible class girls will bo only the first of similar productions, as the performance was excellent and reflected great credit on the producer, performers and all others who so kindly assisted.