NATIVITY PLAY PRESENTED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 21, 21 December 1932, Page 11

NATIVITY PLAY PRESENTED.

Staged as a means towards augmenting the Y.W.C.A. conference funds, the Nativity play “Eager I Heart” was witnessed by an interested audience at All Saints’ Parish Hah i last evening. The play, which is modelled on the lines of an old mediaeval mystery play was enacted bv members of the Palmerston North Girl Citizens and their counsellors under th© direction of Miss Ashton. The projducer, in order to create an appro- ! pria.te atmosphere wrote a beautiful introductory play, the parts of Mary and Joseph being taken by Joan Andrews and Irene Retter. and Miss Ashton is to be congratulated on the effort. The story of “Eager Heart” surrounds the desire of three sisters, “Eager Heart,” “Eager Sense” and “Eager Fame,” to meet their King, while woven into the story is the quests of the Shepherds and the Wise Men. Before going on her search “Eager Heart” befriends three strangers, giving them of the humble fare she had prepared for the King. She returns to find that she had entertained the Holy Family while her sisters had turned Them away from their gates, having sought the King in deeds of fame and valour. Josie Fleming gave a very intelligent and appealing characterisation of the part of “Eager Heart,” singing sweetly and speaking with a good sense of her lines. Joan R-owntree and Leslie Reese, as “Eager Sense” and “Eager Fame,” were also convincing. Doro Hansmann (Mary), Enid Sinclair (Joseph), Phyllis Holdaway, Nola Jordan and Nancye Carruthors as the Shepherds, and Joyce Cruttenden, Miss Hastings and Miss Ashton as the Wise Men, all sustained their parts well, the whole performance creating a good impression. Miss Margaret Walker, in the Prologue. liad..a big task, which she filled admirably, her sweet singing contributing greatly to the success of the production. A number of Christinas carols were sung, Miss Lorna Sinclair being at the piano, while Misses J. Edwards and Flora Fleming also assisted-