There is a Godot worth waiting for at the Citz.

Went to see The Blue Room at the Citz last night. Its David Hare’s take on La Ronde, you know.
Not a bad night out, but the whole thing was never quite brought to the boil. Unlike the original, there never felt as though there was any risk of anyone getting arrested for it.

To the Citz theatre last night to see Venus as a Boy - one of the offerings in the Glasgay festival. It is an odd play. Once we had got over a rather laboured prolog (“… And now ladies and gentlemen, the prolog”, as Mr Howerd might have said) it soon warmed up.
It was described […]

After a hard day’s slog at the Nexus exhibition mentioned earlier, it was back to St Mary’s for a wedding rehearsal and then off to the Glasgow Film Theatre.
It was a treat - the Glasgow première of David Mackenzie’s new film Hallam Foe, complete with chatter with the director at the end.

It is an odd […]

Just back from the GFT. Saw The Walker the new Woody Harrelson flick.
Lauren Bacall tossed her head in caustic fashion. Kristin Scott Thomas bit her lip over and over again. And Mr Harrelson spent most of the film being a deeply unattractive man.
Turned out to be a better film than you thought it was going […]

Creative Ideas for Quiet Days by Sue Pickering - from Canterbury Press – £14.99
Many folk in churches are picking up on the idea of a day retreat or quiet day. These are particularly popular during Advent and Lent. It is common for retreat houses and religious communities to offer to organise and host such activities, […]

Rabble-Rouser for Peace - the authorised biography of Desmond Tutu by John Allan (Rider Books - £18.99)
Episcopal biographies are a very specialised form of literature. I remember during one of the many (over 50) interviews that formed a part of my selection for ministry being told that all that I needed to do was to […]

Craps, hats, spats. Pzazz.

This edition of the Bible is aimed at teenagers. Well, perhaps it is aimed at Evangelical parents and other relatives looking to buy a Bible for teenagers, which is nearly, but not quite, the same thing.

The Contemporary English Version is a Bible translation which uses a restricted vocabulary. It is a fairly progressive translation, for example, translating ?the Jews? as ?the people? in an attempt to tone down some of the perceived anti-Semitic language of the fourth Gospel. Similarly, it uses gender inclusive language for the people of God. What is odd though is that the notes and text-boxes which go alongside the biblical text don?t all use inclusive language themselves. This is the first clue that the notes are in some way competing with the text. The CEV avoids difficult words like Redemption or Grace in its attempt to be a Bible for those with a limited vocabulary (eg younger readers and those who use English as a second language) ? yet the editor puts in a text box explaining what Redemption is in the middle of the book of Ruth and Grace gets similar treatment in the middle of Ephesians.

Does the third chapter of the fourth gospel need a note in the margin telling the reader to ?Commit your life to Jesus. Promise him that you?re going to change your life. Talk to someone about this??

Worried that you know that you have been saved but that it doesn?t feel like it? ? don?t worry, help is o­n hand in a text-box in the middle of Isaiah. Proof texts galore.

The CEV is a simplified text, but is that really an excuse for simplistic notes? (Abortion? ? read Psalm 139). Unsurprisingly, the Song of Songs is not allowed to reach its climax ? sorry, conclusion, without a page-long essay o­n keeping sex within heterosexual marriage. Substitutionary atonement makes a guest appearance in a text-box o­n Judgement ? ??the Bible is clear: people have to pay for their sins. Or ask Jesus to pay the price??

If you are looking to give someone a Bible in clear simple language with marginal notes which have a distinct bias to the religious right then look no further. Looking for the same text without the notes? ? check out other CEV editions published by Collins.

The ?cev youth bible ? Contemporary English Version? edited by Nick Page is published by Collins and costs ?15.99

How can the mysteries of the faith be expressed o­n stage or film? Mel Gibson?s rather gory answer to this question is currently to be seen in cinemas across the land but for a more thoughtful and more fun version of the Passion with plenty of other biblical stories thrown in, take a look at the South African production of The Mysteries which is now available o­n DVD and Video.

This retelling of the Chester Mystery cycle uses a multiracial, multilingual South African cast to present a colourful, choral stage production. The origins of the cast are used to the full ? A Xhosa speaking Mary greets her Afrikaans cousin Elizabeth, Jesus is black and speaks Zulu to a white English-speaking betrayer, and the woman caught in adultery is saved from a township necklacing. The cast of 40 weave African rhythms and majestic choral singing around familiar stories which are told with great energy and verve. Particularly noteworthy are the creation of Adam, Noah?s tale ? complete with a comic interlude whilst he tries to persuade Mrs Noah to get o­n board ? and the crucifixion. In an interesting theological statement, God the Creator and Jesus are both played by the same actor Vumile Nomanyama who is outstanding.

That the experience is readily accessible, despite being in English, Zulu, Xhosa and Afrikaans is testament to the ingenuity of both cast and production. This is a film record of a stage production which first appeared at Wilton?s Music Hall in London. It was filmed for the BBC by Heritage Theatre Video Productions. This video would make an ideal resource for many church groups to use during Holy Week.

This is the greatest story ever told and this version is the greatest dramatic telling you are ever likely to see.

The Mysteries is available o­n DVD (?19.99) and Video (?16.99) from good record/video shops as well as being available to order o­nline from www.heritagetheatre.com