INSPIRING PLAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 83, 7 March 1938, Page 9

INSPIRING PLAY.

FIRST ENGLISH PERFORMANCE. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND. March 6. Under a starry, windswept sky and before a vast assemblage, “Credo,” a deeply inspiring scenic play, was presentee! at the "Western Springs Stadium on Saturday night as a notable

contribution to the New Zealand Catholic centenary celebrations. Broad was its stage, countless its actors and impressive its scenes, yet its message was simple and its challenge direct and clear. This was the first performance in llie English language of the plav which was written by Father Joseph Boon, of Enschan, Belgium, for the sixth Catholic congress at Malines in September, 1936. “Credo” seeks to show the Christian of the present day as he stands amid a world of. sin, a Babylon of wickedness, to defeat the forces of evil which threaten to overcome the entire earth. It urges the necessity for humility, repentance and prayer and it demands of each and everyone action in the service of Christ. This was the action which was so effectively represented in a jirologue to the play when out into the huge arena inarched a procession of youths bearing aloft flags and banners, symbols of their faith and service. Following the youths came a, host of angels spreading over the field in a huge fan shape. The gleaming whiteness of their robes and wings was in sharp relief against the dark green turf. Somewhere a voice spoke into the night, a choir took up the words and slowly, with measured tread, the youths and angels dispersed to the edge of the arena. The singing stopped and the lights gave place to gloom. Silence reigned. Thus was the stage set for “Credo,” which was most impressive and inspiring. Spectacle followed spectacle. At every stage the huge gathering was thrilled, and there was a glorious final scene. From their places among the spectators came a procession of bishops and clergy moving slowly before the bearer of the Blessed Sacrament. Bishop Liston, who took the place of His Excellency the Apostolic Delegate (Most Rev. J. Panico) who was indisposed. At the foot of the altar, the procession halted. The great assemblage joined in the singing of “0 Salutaris” and “Tantnm Ergo,” and actors and spectators knelt before the Blessed Sacrament, hailed by a fanfare of trumpets. The Benediction was spoken and the crowd joined in the chant of “Adoremus in Aeternum,” and, at the close, thousands of voices were lifted up to heaven in the singing of a hymn to the Holy Name.