CHRISTMAS PLAY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19986, 19 December 1934, Page 5

CHRISTMAS PLAY

FIRST OF KIND IN TIMARU J “Eager Heart” the first Christmas j Mystery Play to be produced in Timaru was presented to a large and appreciative audience in St. Mary’s Hall last night by St. Mary’s Girls’ Club, assisted by members of St. Mary’s Choir and members of St. Mary’s lien’s Club. “Eager Heart” is in the nature of a 1 revival of the Mystery Plays of I hundreds of years ago when they were performed in the Churches by the monks. The play is by A. M. Buck- ! ton and the characters comprised Eager Heart and her two sisters, Eager Fame and Eager Sense, the Poor and Nameless Family, three shepherds and a young man and three kings. The time was Christmas Eve and the place, everywhere. ! An effective prologue introduced an j aged man in black who stood before I the curtain which represented the door ! of the dwelling of Eager Heart and ex- ■ plained the opening of the play. The | story contained a fine moral and was I especially in keeping with the spirit of I Christmas. The Christain action of Eager Heart, who, although her house j was prepared to receive the Great j King born in the Manger, took in the members of the Poor Nameless Family who presented themselves at her door, to occupy the only accommodation she had available. Her reward came later in the play when Kings and shepherds, attracted by the bright star and the singing of the choir of angels, presented themselves at her humble dwelling to pay homage to the Greatest of Kings and His parents, whom she had unknowingly made welcome. The beautiful moral was explained by the aged man in black, in presenting the J epilogue, and he dramatically appealed to the audience always to let Christ enter into their lives. “Eager Heart” was splendidly produced, the lavish and colourful robes of the Kings being in direct contrast

to the sombre-robed Eastern Shepherds. The staging of the play and the lighting effects were excellent, while the work of the characters was uniformly good, the dialogue being flawless throughout. The presentation could not have been such an outstanding success had it not been for the able support given bv an unseen choir comprising a double quartette,* which created a pleasing atmosphere by singing some very fine Chorales taken from Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio,” with the exception of “Eager Heart’s Song” and “The Shepherds’ \ Song,” which were specially composed by Mr A. W. V. Vine. F.R.C.O.,—wmo J directed the musical side of the piay—to complete the music. “Eager Heart” was an ambitious undertaking w r ell carried out. and credit is due to the Girls’ Club for their initiative and to Miss E. G. Islip, who produced the play. It will be presented again to-morrow night.