The Torn Curtain.

Introduction, by the author

"The Torn Curtain" was originally written by Roger Jones, and is one of his earlier works. It was written as a musical service of Holy Communion, and lasts about an hour in that form.

It seems that Roger's early works are mostly luscious music, and very little drama. This is certainly true of this work, as there is less than five minutes narration in the whole piece. To be fair, it is assumed that the latter half on the presentation will have an ordained priest/pastor leading the prayers & Holy Communion.

Revelation presents this material in a somewhat different form. The music is still Roger's, and could not be improved upon. Interspersed with that are scenes from a short play that members of Revelation have written.

The story line takes place early in the first century AD, and concerns a scholar and their teacher. They arrive just outside the Temple of Herod, and begin to study the Temple's history (going as far back as the original Tabernacle). (The audience is left to work out where these two have come from)

During their study, they are the only people present during one of God's important miracles (the tearing of the sanctuary curtain, between the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place). The play then briefly explores their reaction to this miracle, and how this leads to a reversal in their roles.

The play, with the first half of Roger's music, takes about one hour. At this point, the church fellowship has the choice of continuing the presentation into a Holy Communion service, or having the presentation stop here. If the Holy Communion is desired, the remainder of Roger's music is used for this, as originally planned.

The first two scenes are reproduced below.
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