He's Alive! A New Passion Play

WAKEFIELD, Mass. - Feb. 27, 2016 - PRLog -- A passion play….what is that? Originating in Oberammergau, Germany in 1634, the first passion play of its kind was a play of life and death promised in a moment of mortal threat. In the middle of the Thirty Years War, after months of suffering and death because of the bubonic plague, the Oberammergauers swore an oath to be fulfilled, not by just a few, but by the whole community. They vowed that they would perform every ten years “a play of the suffering, death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ” if the Lord would remove the
plague from their people. Oberammergau villagers built a stage in the cemetery where the first plague victims were buried and there they told the story of Jesus’ death and suffering.Their prayers were answered. The people of Oberammergau were spared more deaths due to the plague and a tradition was born.
Oberammergau actors, singers, instrumentalists and stage technicians have continued to bring to the stage those events that Christianity regards as its central source of life and hope. The production is done in native German but an English translation is available. The next Oberammergau passion play will be offered in 2020. In 2000 a Wakefield resident, Horace Hylan, first heard about Germany’s passion play from his sister. Hylan’s sister’s description of her passion play experience there and the dedication of the Oberammergau villagers so took hold of Hylan he could not deny his desire to present to his church family and the community a dramatization of the biblical account of Jesus’ last days on earth, and he did beginning in 1997. After Hylan retired as the director, passion play productions continued at First Parish.

In this year’s play “He’s Alive!” a mother and daughter talk about their struggles
because of the recent passing of their husband and father. Anger, grief, sadness, guilt and loneliness, all of those emotions, are ever present affecting daily how mother and daughter feel and what they do. Mother points her daughter’s attention to people in the Bible who have experienced the same emotions. Throughout the play people of Jesus’ time are spotlighted and deliver monologues explaining their parts in the events of Jesus’ last days on earth.

Mother Mary, Martha, Sister Mary, the woman at the well, a soldier, Pilate and Disciples Peter and Judas (Judas speaking from the grave) share their unique perspectives and experiences. Special powerful music enhances the storytelling. “He’s Alive!” will be offered free to the community Maundy Thursday, March 24, and Good Friday, March 25. For additional information call the church office at 7812451539 or talk with Pastor Nick Toroni after the 9 a.m. Sunday morning worship service in the Chapel or the 10:30 a.m. service in the Sanctuary. Information is also posted on the church website at www.fpccwakefield.com .