PAGEANT OF S. ANDREW

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXI, Issue 2783, 3 December 1931, Page 6

PAGEANT OF S. ANDREW

IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE. THE PREMIER PRESENTATION. Giving glimpses of the real historical chain that links the days of two thousand years ago with the present era, the Pageant of S.-Andrew, presented for ■ the first time in the new Parish Hall on Tuesday evening,, in connection with the -jubilee of the consecration of S. Andrew’s-Church, was indeed a very creditable performance and was thoroughly appreciated by the large audience, which included many visitors from Hamilton and other centres. The main theme running through the production is that of the spread of Christianity from the time that Joseph of Arimathoa went forth from Jerusalem to proclaim Christianity to the Britain*. The action discloses the con- \ ersion of England and the spread of the message even to the utmost parts the earth. An epilogue brings a scene, at the date of the consecration of the present S. Andrew’s Church, showing “A Lady of Cambridge” giving to the young of that day a message from the consecrating Bishop. !A Dream of Youth. The whole pageant is a drama of youth and adventure and the chivalrous, generous self-giving of the young —Aiden, Chad, Boniface, Coley Patteson and others—in response to a great call which is raised to its highest level in the simple words of S. Andrew’s hymn, “Jesus Calls Us.” The pageant is the work of the Anchoress Mary Etheldred who, prior to her taking religious vows and coining to live in Cambridge, was Miss M. E. Pulling, one of the founders, and for nearly a quarter of a century the headmistress of the Diocesan High School for Girls, Auckland. While headmistress of tlie school Miss Pulling wrote and produced several striking plays, including one based on the work of the poet Dante, which lias been published in England, and also the Pattcson Pageant which was presented in connection with the centenary of the martyrdom of Bishop Pattcson in Melanesia. Three of the scenes in ,Saint Andrew’s Pageant arc taken from the Pattcson Pageant. Not the authorship of the pageant alone is due to the Anchoress. She has been mainly responsible for the training of the players and her herself made most of the stage properties used in the pageant. The cope worn by the Prologue representative of Saint Ami-ew, was the property of the late Bishop Noligan, and was often worn by him when Bishop of Auckland. Smooth Continuity. The pageant is divided into five acts each of which is broken into a number of scenes, necessitating many different stage settings. However, these were carried out with a minimum delay so as not to interfere with the continuity of the scenes. Act one shows how Joseph took the faith to Britain in A.D. 41, and is divided into three scenes, the first depicting a housetop in Jerusalem on the day which the Aposties are preparing to go “to the uttermost parts of the earth.” Andrew and Philip disclose piam; to the Druids, who would oppose, .v’nli his cross-handled staff he marks the site of tho Mother-Church of .Britain. Christmas Day a year later is the. -lotting of tiie next seen,; and Missionaries and converts join in a shout of praise to the Cross when they find that Joseph’s „staff has budded ami blos.c.mod into white flowers, in mid-winter. llow Augustine pi cached tiie Cross .. ivenf S(H) years uuer is disclosed in . iie second act. Meanwhile Christianity had spread from Glastonbury but had at this time been all but stamped out by heathen invaders called iho “.English.” So England needed re-con\ert-ing. Impressive Taoleau. Act three deals with the work of Aidan in converting all England to Christ and makes one of the most imparessive tableaux of the pageant. With the re-con version of Britain a young monk Winfred, later called Boniface, finds his vocation in missionary work a ad makes Germany his field. .Many centuries pass and the action or the fifth act is confined to how Col-

eridge Pattcson carried the faitli to “the uttermost parts of the earth”— New Zealand and South Sea Islands. It is interesting to note that every sentence spoken-by Pattoson in this scene is his own, taken from his letters or recorded conversations on or about the day represented, namely that of August 20, 1854. The epilogue then brings the pageant to the date of the consecration of the present St. Andrew’s Church, and follows the action as depicted previously. There were many complimentary remarks passed on Tuesday evening at the conclusion of the entertainment. The members of the cast did full justice to their parts and helped in no small measure in making the pageant a unique performance.