Played with such Passion (From Andover Advertiser)

Played with such Passion

11:40am Friday 9th April 2010

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IT was not in the script but the torrential rain that carried on right through one of the most interesting, popular and enthralling community events ever staged in Andover on Good Friday just added to the atmosphere.

The Andover Passion, which brought the churches together for the most important weekend of the Christian calendar, graphically recreated the scenes of the crucifixion.

The main action took place between the time ring and the Guildhall but the event started with the walk of witness from the Baptist Church then along Junction Road, through the leisure centre and into the town centre.

The cross was dragged to the town centre where Jesus stood trial before the priests in the time ring, he was mocked by the soldiers on his way round and his fate was sealed by Pilate and the crowd at the Guildhall where he was crucified.

In medieval times such dramatic representations of biblical events were a powerful way of teaching the usually illiterate laity about the Christian faith.

The Andover Passion Play, written and adapted by Peter Hutley MBE, was aimed at a rather more sophisticated and knowledgeable audience, and gave a clear demonstration of what Christians could achieve when they put aside their differences and concentrated on the essential truths that they shared.

With the support of Test Valley Borough Council and Andover Churches Together, producer Sharon O’Leary assembled a cast of 65 from members of the various Christian communities locally.

Sharon said: “It was a privilege and a pleasure to be able to direct people from different Christian groups.

“It is very close to my heart that Christians should work together no matter what their denomination for something in which we have a common belief, working as brothers and sisters.”

There were those who felt that the weather added to the sombre elements of the trial and crucifixion. But it was noticeable that Jesus was shivering visibly from the cold when he was taken down from the cross.

Rev Andrew Ashdown, clad in a modern cassock, acted as narrator and created a symbolic link with the present.

Mr Ashdown said what an amazing story the play had shown. “Christ is crucified by the authorities, his people run away, yet he overcomes death and in the face of rejection he offers his love and forgiveness for all,” he said.

The central role of Christ was taken by Jez Jameson and there was a noticeable tension in the audience as he was taken to be flogged, and the amplified sounds of a whip lashing down had many people wincing.

Other solid performances from Clive Bagwell as Pontius Pilate, Frank Saunders as the centurion, John Scicluna as the high priest Caiaphas, Rev John Taylor as the inquisitor, Phil Allon and Chris Davies as Peter and John, Jenny Sanders as Mary Magdalene and Yvonne West as Christ’s distraught mother Mary.

The production was costumed by a team led by Rosemary Sabroe, carpentry by Maurice Mansbridge, Father Peter Codd, and Army chaplain Rev K D Mentzel who obtained the help of the Royal Engineers at Perham Down to make the thieves’ crosses, while the sound was in the hands of Daniel Paine.

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