SYNOPSIS

The scene is set in the courts of heaven. A judge is invited to preside over the trialof a woman who has broken all the commandments of God. In his self-righteous condemnation of her he finds himself on trial, and after a searching interrogation confesses that he too is guilty. In the end he realises that the way of redemption is not self-righteous aloofness, but self-identification with the fallen. The play is a penetrating and uncomfortable challenge to the ordinary assumption of personal, social and national life; it convicts the conscience and stirs up the will; and yet all the time it remains true drama.

Extract from Priory Newsletter 23 March 1975

THE TRIAL "The Trial", a play by John Ferguson was performed by the Wesley Players at Priory on 20th February and at Oakley on the 25th. Musical items were provided at the beginning and end of the play by Priory Choir. A synopsis of the play has been given before, but, for anyone who missed it, it concerned the appearance of a deceased judge in Heaven. He was invited to sit in judgement on a young woman who was accused of various carnal sins. After hearing the evidence, the judge appeared to be deeply disturbed at the woman's history and passed a very severe sentence. Because of this, the judge's life was also scrutinized and it was proved on three counts that he had during his lifetime, been as sinful as the young woman, albeit unwittingly, or, perhaps more accurately, unthinkingly. The play held one's attention throughout and succeeded in its attempt -to dispel the audience's natural complacency in life. The two principal roles were played by Bill Davies, the Judge, and Charles Spencer, the Recording Angel, both of whom played their parts convincingly and kept the play moving at a good pace. Some very good acting was also in evidence amongst the supporting cast. B.T.S.