Show record crowds view easter pageant at zion national park forty five hundred people thrilled to the beauty of pageantry and music presented sunday with the great white throne of flori national park as the background for what was generally acclaimed to be the most spectacular easter service ever held in the western states henry E peterson of cedar city a former richfield resident and son mr and mrs H H petersen sen of richfield was chairman of the committee in charge of the services As the crowd gathered at the amphitheatre during the hour before sunset strains of 0 organ music were heard throughout the canyon the recital was played by sheldon heap salt lake city organist on an instrument to be used this summer in grand canyon national park the audience of persons who journeyed to the site sunday was a single day record for zion national park and despite the threats of unfavorable weather was 1000 larger than that of last year the visitors came from nine western states and canada the pageant at zion park was opened with readings by allen alien cannon followed by musical preludes from a beautifully trained chorus accompanied by a 52 piece symphony orchestra the play opened with the scene scene of the last supper and proceeded to the ceremony of christs anno inting the feet of the 12 disciples the role of the christus played by grant H redford director and author of the pageant was given an e excellent x c e I 1 I 1 e n t interpretation throughout reaching a splendid climax in the long trek up the hillside when he carried the heavy cross to golgotha under scourge of the soldiers whip mob scenes under direction of mrs blanche C jones were starkly real as the rabble increased and their shouting reverberated reverb rated against the lofty canyon walls the role of judas depicted by joy dunyan was outstanding richfield people who went to zion canyon to witness the pageant included mr and mrs frank pace mr air and mrs W 0 cluff H B waters mr and mrs guy baker mr and mrs L C frank dr and mrs F N mr and mrs M W smith mr and mrs lester hartle misses ila ha louise and thelma dastrup miss alta miss helen johnson irving peterson henry bates alton alten christensen wayne peterson eldon peterson and mr and mrs J larue ogden and family who were returning from a trip to boulder dam |