Erik & I were originally cast as the Blue Wise Man & the Blue Wise Man follower in the Easter Pageant. A couple of months or so later Erik received a call from Jenee Prince (the Director) asking if we wouldn't mind switching parts. She asked if we would be willing to play Mary & Joseph this year in the pageant. Of course! We always talk about how we're willing to do whatever part is asked of us. We also like mixing things up & trying new parts. We've been the parents of the Dead Girl for 5 years & needed something new. After doing the same thing for so long you tend to get complacent & it becomes routine. It's hard to give it your all & give the same kind of spirit to a part when you've done it for so long.
So, we are now Mary & Joseph in the Boy Jesus & the Temple scene. There's a different Mary & Joseph for the Mary's Lullaby scene. She dances & there's no way to get from one scene to the opening of the next scene in time. With that casting comes the casting of myself as Mary in the Crucifixion scene. I've been in this scene before - years ago. I didn't think much of it when I heard I would be in that scene because I've done it before & thought I knew what to expect. Little did I know that this would change me. This would impact me forever.
When I showed up for my first rehearsal of this scene I was expecting to have an easy night. Don't get me wrong - I knew being in this scene would be hard just for the sheer nature of what it represents. However, I figured I would just be on stage "mourning" so to speak. When rehearsal started they started giving us direction.
Jeff (one of the Assistant Directors) started asking if any of us have been in the room as someone passed. To which I thought - yes. {sigh} That brings tears everytime at the very thought, so thinking of that will make tears flow easily.
Then, they started giving me a lot of direction. How many years have I been in the pageant? And, how did I not remember that Mary was an intricate part of this scene? I've heard the soundtrack a million times, but had forgotten.
Let's do a little refresher course from the scriptures that's basically the wording for the scene shall we? Here's an excerpt from John chapter 19:
25 ¶Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his amother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of bCleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the adisciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, bWoman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy amother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
Did you catch that?
Did you read it the same way I did?
To me - reading that with this scene in mind I think - YIKES! How did I not remember? This scene is testing my acting abilities tremendously. (Or should I say lack of acting abilities?) Not only that, but how do you appropriately portray this part? Not only are you standing there watching as the Savior passes away....
...but, you're watching on as his Mother!!!
As a mother myself, I just can't begin to fathom this at all!! Thinking about this horrific act effects all of us in some way as it is, but this is different for me now. I think of Mary in a totally different way now - she had to watch these horrible acts happen to her son. Not her Savior - HER SON!
I think of that often while on stage & how my dad must have felt being in the room as Michael passed. Words just can't describe that event - for me - as a sister. I can't imagine how it was for him as a dad. And on Father's Day no less. I think this experience gives me a little bit of perspective. Let me say that again - A LITTLE BIT - because I, again, can't begin to fathom!
With that aside, I also feel a little bit of pressure. How do you give spirit to that scene? It's obviously a very important scene & I don't want to mess it up. I want to do it justice as well as give it the complete reverence & respect it deserves. Yet, it's hard to portray this beautiful woman & how she must have felt. This is an experience that I will never forget. One that will effect how I feel about this event forever. It has given me a new perspective & I am grateful for this opportunity.
Click on the "easter pageant" label for more stories through the years. ;)
1 comment:
You did a wonderful job and took it serious! I love your stories of the pageant. What a spiritual building time for you and your family!
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