concert to finance a banner marking the church Guild's 50th anniversary.

Thirty-one years later, the St. James Church Stage Group, formed in 1969, is still going strong, and proudly waving its own banner: that of a highly successful theatrical team whose annual productions draw sell-out audiences.

Just what makes these Easter Monday concerts such a success is down to a combination of things: familiar faces doing down-home vignettes audiences can relate to; the fun and laughter they create; the looks back to yesteryear -- times of simple pleasures and pleasant memories presented in a uniquely Bermudian way.

In other words, a delightful stroll down memory lane, with all that that portends in today's world of changing values.

The 40-plus cast and crew of this year's production are again drawn main from various Somerset churches, with a few members from other churches around the Island. Some, like Mrs. Marilyn Burchall and Mrs. Josephine Simmons, have been there since the beginning, while others, like Mrs. Mary Simmons and Mrs. Alice Burch, are newcomers to the stage.

Still others, like Mrs. Enith Simons and Mrs. Islowe Wade, have retired from the stage but continue to help in other ways.

And just what attracts these diverse, and often elderly, thespians to the stage? "It's fun, and I like it,'' says Mrs. Mary Simmons. "In fact, I've also been Secretary of the group for eight or nine years, but am giving that up this year.'' "I am a founder-member,'' 90-year-old Mrs. Josephine Simmons says proudly.

"I have loved acting since I was a child, but I like dancing the best.'' A keen cricket fan and former player for the Gaiety Girls, the mother of cricketer McDonald Simmons was a "natural'' for a similar role on stage.

No stranger to the stage herself -- she was in her first play at age six -- Mrs. Burch made her acting debut last year, and enjoyed it so much she's back again.

"It is a lot of fun, and they are a lovely group,'' she assures. "We are all so friendly, and help each other out.'' As the youngest cast member, Mrs. Lilymay Bulford says part of her motivation comes from watching people enjoying themselves.

"I used to come to these shows when I was younger,'' she relates. "I like to see people having fun, and I thought acting would be something nice to do. As I am getting older, I hope to encourage other younger people to come in.'' While there is no shortage of actresses, the same cannot be said for actors.

In fact, the women are unanimous in wishing more men would come forward.

Meanwhile, cross dressing and lowering their voices fills the gap.

Cast members write their own material, drawing on everyday life experiences, and many also perform in their own skits. Since the cast ranges in age from "39 and holding'' to 90, it is hardly surprising that the breadth of their homespun tales is considerable.

Senior citizen Mrs. Hyacinth Simmons has written a skit about getting old, while Mrs. Mary Simmons has written one about a family Sunday lunch, part of which includes plucking chickens and a nasty surprise in the dessert.

Chickens also feature in one of Mrs. Jane Rogers' skits, while another centres around the vicissitudes of courting.

Of course, the dialogue is delivered in the good old Bermudian accent, and often broadened for comic effect. Dialogue doesn't always follow the script, but the experienced thespians just ad lib their way through any glitches with their audience none the wiser.

Mrs. Marjorie Talbot remembers the time when she was singing Old Black Joe with Stuart Talbot Perinchief.

"We were having a ball waltzing around when a pin came out and my skirt dropped to the floor, showing my girdle,'' she relates. "I told Stuart what had happened and he said, `Keep going, keep going.' The audience thought it was part of the show! Every time I went to Hamilton after that someone would say: `Are your pants going to drop down?' '' Intentional laughter is always a key ingredient of these Easter productions, and the capacity audiences arrive well in advance of curtain time, knowing full well that they will leave with uplifted spirits and more than passing smile on their lips.

Costumes -- all hand sewn, and some decades old -- are always charming and colourful, and evoke memories of days when necessity was the mother of invention.

Mrs. Viola Rogers, for example, has been wearing the same eye-catching patchwork skirt for 20 years.

"That's how people dressed in days gone by,'' she explains. "They would take little scraps of material, stitch them together, and make outfits.'' St. James' thespians walk down Memory Lane Flour bags, bleached and laundered, are another source of costume fabric -- again reflecting the economic times in which they were popularly used for clothing.

Vintage hats, many bearing the obvious signs of years of use, also hark back to the days when millinery was as much a part of the wardrobe as shoes.

Today's trimmings, however, are as fresh as tomorrow, being colourful samplings of local flora.

The cast is backed by a seven-piece band, whose members play the timeless tunes that get the toes a-tappin'. They include Capt. Bruce Jennings and Lt.

Jonathan Kellman of the Salvation Army, Earlston Smith, Calvin Simons, Elliott Perinchief, Raymond Tucker and Joseph (Red) Mears.

"We know all the tunes and play them by ear,'' says tenor sax player Mr.

Simons. "It's a lot of fun, and I really enjoy it.'' In addition to the "resident'' cast, the programme always includes a guest artist or artists, and this year the Wesley Methodist Church's Ambassadors of Harmony, an a capella men's group, will be performing.

Behind the scenes, the Group's president, Mr. Butler-Durrant, doubles as stage manager, while Rotimi Martins directs, and Dewitt Thomas is in charge of sound. In addition to acting and singing, Mervyn Smith handles scenery and props, while Mrs. Alice Simmons is wardrobe mistress.

As always with long-standing groups such as this, death ultimately takes takes its toll. This year, Mr. Alexander Outerbridge will be missed after 31 years as an actor and props manager.

In years gone by, the St. James Church Stage Group has taken its show to various locations around the Island by invitation. Last year, they did a second, one-night run at City Hall, whose stage facilities were so much more sophisticated. The show was so well received there that the exercise will be repeated on May 31 at 8 p.m. Box office details will be announced later.

In addition, the group expects to perform skits from the show during the forthcoming Seniors' Month celebrations, as well as when they entertain the seniors themselves. They are also willing to consider requests to perform elsewhere.

But why not more than one night in Somerset? "You can't repeat anything in your own backyard,'' Mr. Butler-Durrant says.

Behind the night of good, clean family fun, the St. James Church Stage Group has a mission: to raise funds for a church or charity of its choice. While this year's beneficiary is yet to be decided, there is no doubt that the cause will be again be a worthy one, just as those in the past have been.

In Concert Tickets for the Easter Monday performance at St. James Church Hall, Main Road, Somerset are available from members and at the door. Patrons are admitted for $15; adults $10 and children $5. The performance begins at 8 p.m. 234-0364 or 234-3937.