Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 31, 1994 TAG: 9403310233
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FRANCES STEBBINS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Heartened by the response, Trail and her choir this year expanded the contemporary work by Robert and Cindy Sterling with orchestration by Dave Williamson to two nights.
More than 400 nearly filled the Southeast area sanctuary for the first performance.
"The Choice" is one of many Easter pageants that have caught on, especially in large Baptist congregations, over the past few years. They enable professional church musicians like Trail, who has been at Waverly Place for 12 years, to involve much of the congregation in some aspect of the work.
The elaborate Easter production has replaced one at Christmas, Trail said. The chorus and cast began working seriously in January, but were hampered by bad weather.
Many children, teens and elderly folk joined in the crowd scenes of a story that combines the biblical account of the death and resurrection of Jesus with a sentimental tale of a Roman centurion's love for a Jewish girl converted to Jesus' teachings.
"The Choice" lasts 90 minutes and includes music and narration. It calls for 15 speaking parts - though some are minor - and a lesser number of soloists. As with all amateur productions, the quality of delivery varied at Waverly Place, but, as Trail observed, all did their best in producing an inspirational story.
Plainly, many hours went into the production, which was applauded only after the Rev. Charles Hoffler, one of the major characters, gave permission for the congregation to do so.
A sky backdrop transformed the baptistry area into the illusion of a temple, and full costuming enhanced the production.
Renting some costumes and equipment was a major part of the cost, Trail said, noting that the whole show cost the church about $600.
In this play, the audience doesn't see Christ crucified; his tormentors obviously see him and some of his words are shouted down at them. The audience sees him in the end - triumphant and accompanied by a teen-age male angel.
Trail and her stage crew did themselves proud with sound and sight effects on the death of Jesus - the Bible suggests an earthquake - and before dawn on Easter when the stone was rolled away from the tomb.
In the end Marcus, the doubting Roman centurion, makes his choice to follow Jesus and thereby wins the love of the heroine Hannah, who agrees to flee with him.
Topping off the performance was the contemporary Baptist hymn of invitation, "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus." Hoffler, quickly changing his Roman soldier's garb for his usual black pulpit robe, pointed out that the choice remains no less fulfilling for people today than it was nearly 2,000 Easters ago.
by CNB