Passionate about Passion Play
As I arrived at the intimate Irondale Center for the New York premiere of Sarah Ruhl’s Passion Play, I had no idea what to expect. Although I was slightly familiar with the Ruhl’s work, I was not at all prepared for the force of nature that is Passion Play. This show truly blew me away. Sarah Ruhl’s mastery of language and raw emotion, matched by Epic Theatre Ensemble’s production, created a thought-provoking masterpiece.
In an ideal marriage between text and production company, Passion Play emphasizes Epic’s mission of, in the words of Founding Executive Director Zak Berkman, “producing plays that explore consequences of an individual’s actions on their larger society and spur dialogue about civic issues.” To say Passion Play achieves this would be a great understatement.
The play itself takes place in three acts that embody productions of the Passion of the Christ in three historic eras: Elizabethan England (where religious plays were banned and priests persecuted); Pre-Hitler Germany (with a harrowing foreshadowing of events to come); and South Dakota during the Reagan years (Post-Vietnam War and in a time of political inaction). Each 45-minute act tells the story of a series of characters, cast members of these Passion plays, with arcs that mirror biblical parables in the context of stark and relevant depictions of history. These characters were presented in the harsh, realistic, yet human, performances of an immensely talented cast. The standout performance came from Polly Noonan with her delicately drawn representation of The Village Idiot/Violet, a prophetic bird enclosed in a cage imposed by those around her. Violet’s story started with childish curiosity that came to a haunting crescendo at the close of the second act and concluded with a beautifully nuanced third act. Dominic Fumusa also brought depth and intensity to the play with his embodiment of the angst-ridden Pontius Pilate characters in an unshakable performance that held the audience in rapt attention throughout the show.
The inventive staging of Passion Play utilized the venue to its maximum capacity. But, the real power and beauty of Ruhl’s writing transcended the stage when an unexpected building evacuation took the performance outdoors, where it continued to on the sidewalks of Brooklyn under the dim lights of the Irondale Center. “Passion Play on the church steps under street lights and cell phone lights was completely in spirit with the historic passions,” said Berkman. “Actors telling a story they deeply believe in for people eager to experience…It was the perfect example of why actors are extraordinary, why theatre can happen anywhere, and why this play transcends space and time.”
In her forward to Passion Play, Sarah Ruhl writes, “We are a divided nation. And the more divided we are, the less we talk about what divides us.” This idea is not only prevalent in today’s political arena, but also encapsulates the true brilliance at the core of Passion Play. The play is a catalyst to start conversation about authority and religion, a conversation that Epic Theatre Ensemble continues with The Passion Coalition, a community organization that takes the play to a whole new level in a way that, as Berkman says “…inspires in young people…the confidence to share their passion in a creative, community-focused way.” This spring, The Passion Coalition is hosting a series of community events, theatrical productions and post-show forums that will continue the compelling dialogue begun by Passion Play.
Under stage lights or cell phone lights, Passion Play packs a punch. The powerful political message at the heart of the play resonates in Epic Theatre Ensemble’s ingenious staging and gut-wrenching performances. On a deeper level, Passion Play presents us with an opportunity to, as Sarah Ruhl writes, “be in one room together as we continue to meditate on the relationship of community to political icons.”
To purchase High 5 tickets to Passion Play, visit the show’s event info page on the High 5 site.
