Evening star., 1946-01-06
By Caspar Names.

In the hazardous invasion of Nor
mandy and through the bitter fighting
in the cold and wet across France and
Belgium into Germany soldier kept
repeating lines from Kind Lady" and
"The Night of January 18TH"
"I said my lines from plays I had
been In with the Mount Vernon Players
over and over again to keep me going"
Pfc. Arden Rahe wrote to Ed Mangum,
director of the group.
The letter was tribute to unique
theatrical group. 1t was a salute to
the only church-sponsored drama
group in the country having full
time director, an emotional recognition
of Methodist organization having
persons of all faiths in its membership.
1t was an expression of the hold the
players have on former members who
helped the group play to more than
$4,000 persons in its nearly 10 years of
existence, over $500 Of that number at
tending two productions this season.
Full Drama Department
The most unusual aspect of the play
ers is the full-time role given to the
director by the church. Church ANA
teur theatricals come under the same.
general heading as the dog bites man"
incident does in news. 1t is simply an
other one of those things But when a
church blazes a new trail in modern
life by instituting a department of the
drama in its program on par with its
other activities-that comes under the
heading of man bites dog"
1t was seven years ago, in December,
1899, that the first steps toward this
radical departure, one fraught with
great possibilities for the professional
theater Of the future in both the acqui-
sition of new talent and the tapping of
new audiences, started. At that time
the Mount Vernon Players had been
tenuous part of the Mount Vernon
Place Methodist Churchs program
since 1896. They were slowly feeling
their way. In that month the group
produced Journeys End" without de-
letting any of the drinking, profanity
and other parts of the play objection
able to some people. A storm of pro-
test by some church members resulted
in meeting being called to do some
thing about the group.
The Rev. DR.. John Rustin, pastor of
the church and one of Washington's
outstanding clergymen, listened to the
complaints. When they were completed
he rose and said: There are times when
feel like saying damn"
Educational Aims
His defense of the groups desire to
do good plays resulted in bringing the
players into the church activities as part
OF the educational program. This was
the first semi-official recognition ac-
corded the group. The organization
was also given representation on the
Board Of Christian Education.
But this still restricted the aims of
the players, which was to put on plays
for the intellectual enjoyment of the
audiences. In March, 1914, the big step
was taken. Mr.. Mangum, who until
then was an employe of the Govern
ment and carried on the drama activi-
ties in his spare time. was asked to head
the newly organized Department of
Drama on salary to be paid out of
the church budget
"AS far as we know this set up the
first Department of Drama in church
anywhere in the country where a full
time director is paid by the church." Mr..
Mangum said, and known facts bear
him out.
Mr.. Mangum, a tall, lean Texan with
enthusiasm, imagination and brains,
was now in position to do good shows
In manner that bears comparison with
the professional stage.
Securing Casts
Luckily, his problem of getting suit
able casts for the ambitious program
set by the organization had been some
what solved despite the rapidly shifting
wartime population and the shortage
Of men. This, too, was a tribute to the
farsightedness of Dr. Rustin and mem
bers of the church official board.
When the players was first organized
on March IA, 1886, only members of the
church were eligible for membership.
The original purpose was to do one-act
religious plays for church groups on
holy days. During the next five years
this condition prevailed, though by
1887 secular shows, for two-night stands,
were being given.