Free telling of the Passion this weekend
By Kathleen Schultz - kschultz@svnmail.com
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| Linda Murray, playing Mary, weeps at the feet of her son, Brody Murray, who plays Jesus in “The Mystery of the Passion of Christ.” (Philip Marruffo - SVN) |
ROCK FALLS – It’s Sunday afternoon in the St. Andrew gym. The Last Supper complete, one apostle leans on another and raises his foot. As the chorus softly sings, Jesus feigns washing his follower’s dirty white sneaker. Soon, he will be advising his friends to turn the other cheek.
There will be a few more dress rehearsals this week, the rest at Centennial Auditorium in Sterling, before “The Mystery of the Passion of Christ” is ready for the stage.
This retelling of the last days of Jesus was written in 1996 by the Rev. Zdzislaw Francis Wawryszuk, Father Francis to all, now parish priest at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Prophetstown.
It’s an ambitious undertaking: More than 100 people, children on up, are involved in the play, which offers three free performances this weekend and next.
It has been in the works since fall, when Father Francis asked in St. Catherine’s weekly bulletin if anyone was interested in putting on a Passion play.
From that question, this Lenten production has grown; from word-of-mouth, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, from here, from Father Francis’ former South Beloit parish and elsewhere, are participating, on stage and behind the scenes.
Father Francis has directed this play several times, although this is the first time in the Sauk Valley. It is clear that it is his passion, because of the message he hopes to convey.
In the script’s preamble to the actors, he writes: “The play is neither theater nor drama. It is a dignified presentation of a mystery that unfolds in the hearts of the actors, and its purpose is to awake reflection.
“Through our Passion play, we want not only to relay the historical facts of the crucifixion of Jesus, but to show that Jesus is being crucified in this world, too.”
With his shock of dark curly hair and sweet but somber demeanor, up-and-coming local actor Brody Murray, 19, of Rock Falls, makes for a credible and empathetic Christ. The Sauk Valley Community College drama student should be familiar to local audiences – he performed regularly with the Rock Falls High School Thespian Troupe before graduating in 2008.
He more than holds his own with the group’s older actors, two of whom, in fact, he is very familiar with: As small-town-production life would have it, Brody’s own mother, Linda Murray, plays his biblical mother Mary, and his father, Jeff Murray, one of his apostles.
The costumes, sewn by volunteers, are simple, and Father Francis allows no artifice – no makeup, masks or wigs, nothing to detract from the message of the age-old story of resurrection and forgiveness.
There is much interest in the play: Already, church and youth groups from throughout the region have asked for tickets, Linda Murray said, and a busload of folks from South Beloit plan to take in a show.
The participants are excited, hopeful that those who come to see the play will find it “a profound Lenten meditation on Christ’s suffering and death.” They hope, too, to raise money for local charities, through donations from those who attend the free performances.
They’re also grateful for the fellowship they’ve found working with others, inside and outside their church.
“That’s what we wanted. We wanted to get a lot of people involved,” Linda Murray said.
To attend
“The Mystery of the Passion of Christ” will be performed at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Palm Sunday, and again at 5 p.m. on Good Friday, at Centennial Auditorium at Sterling High School, 1604 Fourth Ave.
The Rev. Zdzislaw Francis Wawryszuk, author of the play, also directs.
Admission is free, but donations are being taken that will be distributed to food pantries and other local charities. Seating is limited to 800 people a show, and advance tickets are going fast. They are available at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 708 10th Ave., Rock Falls, 815-625-4508; from Wanda Schmitt, 9-10 a.m. Tuesday through Friday at Rock Falls Public Library, 1007 Seventh Ave.; or from Schmitt at 815-438-2051 or Linda Murray at 815-626-4860.
A word of caution: The 2-hour play presents realistic depictions of the beating and suffering of Christ, which may be inappropriate for children younger than 10.
