"Easter Morning" - a play by Bill O'Byrne performed by SPbCU Students
On April 14th, in the assembly hall during the weekly chapel service, a theatrical play written by SPbCU professor, Bill O'Byrne, debuted in the performance of the students.
The play "Easter Morning" is an interpretation of the events written in the gospels that tries to portray what happened during and after Christ's crucifixion before His resurrection. It includes the description of how the apostles reacted, what they could have been thinking, and their worries.
Fundamentaly, the author shows that the apostles were simple sinners, and that they reacted as normal people, caught unexpectedly. They did not expect that their Teacher would be crucified, that the prochecies would come true and so fast like that.
This play is about the loss of a loved Teacher and the aquirement of the Lord in the Risen Christ.
On scene are Christ's apostles. Each of them has somehing to repent, since no one could save the Teacher from crucifixion. Peter denied Christ and cannot forgive himself. Again and again scenes of his denial appear before his eyes, even though Christ had warned him that it would be exactly so.
Matthew doesn't understand what is going on. Thomas does not believe it. John was near during the crucifixtion and suffered greatly. He cried all night and fell asleep.
For all the apostles, Christ died. That is something incomprehensible. Suddenly, news is recieved that the body of the Savior has vanished. Panic and chaos spreads amongst the apostles. Who needed to steal the Body of the Crucified? For what? So that the apostles would encounter persecution?
The apostles are scared of the consequences. Two of them flee to Emaus. On the way the meet a man, in whom they don't recognize the Resurrected Christ.
Mary Magdeline cries out to check His words. Why not check, if He has indeed resurrected? But the many doubts and questions hinder the apostles from believing. Human weakness does not allow us to believe in the impossible.
In the closing scene, Christ appears and rids all fear. The apostles fall to their nees and ask forgiveness for their lack of faith. Christ has indeed risen! Hosanna to the highest!