There's one more weekend to see Center Stage's Christmas play

Center Stage Ministries and the Gapway Baptist Church, Mullins, are presenting a musical-drama called “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” written by Deborah Craig-Claar, with music by Mark Hayes. The play is set in late 1941 and is the story of the faith of a family and a nation on the brink of World War II, preparing to celebrate Christ‘s birth.

Most of the action takes place in the main characters' home, with a choir providing music and drama as it is broadcast over the family radio. The music highlights the sounds of the '40's, including swing, lush ballads, and big band songs interspersed with reenactments of radio broadcasts during that time. Original music mixed with familiar Christmas favorites form the backdrop for this memorable dramatic musical. Final show dates, after play dates in November, will be Dec. 5 and 6 at 7 p.m., and on Dec. 7 at 3 p.m.

A REVIEW:
Center Stage Ministries' play getting rave reviews

They are getting rave reviews at the little theatre at Gapway Baptist Church, in Mullins, where the play “I’ll Be Home For Christmas," directed by Matt Croshaw, is being performed. The song, by the same title, is sung poignantly and brings a tear to your eye.

It’s a holiday musical just in time for the season. It’s about a family living in San Francisco in 1941, consisting of a widowed father, Howard West, his two grown daughters, a grandson and neighbors that live in the apartment complex that are close as family. They each have their own agendas and idiosyncrasies, preferences and disagreements.

Right in the middle of a family disagreement, the radio breaks in with devastating news -- Pearl Harbor has been attacked! Remember this? “Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 ... a date which will live in infamy ... the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan,” (an excerpt of the speech made by President Franklin D. Roosevelt).

Families across our nation, sat in shock and disbelief, hanging onto every bit of information it would bring. The radio, which was a source of entertainment and joy, now brought sadness and fear into every home, into every American’s heart. It’s like it just came right into your home and took over your life, as Howard West said in the play. The play reminds us of the simpler times, before televisions and computers; when the radio was, not only our connection to what’s going on in the world, but also was live stage shows, in the studio, being broadcast across the nation.

It was creativity and ingenuity at its best! The different radio shows being depicted in this play, bring so many levels of entertainment -- it is a multi-faceted enjoyment. Surely you’ve heard it said, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times ..." Well, this is it. How does this typical family, in the 1940’s, cope with such devastation as the beginning of WWII, as their world is turned upside-down?

Experience with the cast the day our nation lost it’s innocence and security, and discovered how vulnerable all human beings are, and how our faith in God gives us the hope and strength we need to rise above it all. Celebrate with them the true meaning of Christmas: families gathering to celebrate the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ ...

They put a lot of work into this play and it shows! There is no charge for tickets, but an offering will be taken. From this writer and the cast and staff of CSM, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!