Passion Play (Ruhl)
by Sarah Ruhl

Name: Passion Play (Ruhl)
Brand: Sarah Ruhl
SKU: 9780573699085
Rating: 4.27 (23 reviews)

Passion Play (Ruhl) Book Cover — Passion Play (Ruhl) Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

120 minsPresent DayEnsemble CastUnit Set/Multiple SettingsPeriod CostumesComedy

Synopsis

Hailed by The New Yorker ’s John Lahr as “extraordinary,” “bold,” and “inventive,” Sarah Ruhl’s Passion Play takes us behind the scenes of three very different communities attempting to stage the death and resurrection of Christ.

This intimate epic occurs at the timely intersection of politics and religion.

Ruhl dramatizes a community of players rehearsing their annual staging of the Easter Passion in three different eras: 1575 Northern England, just before Queen Elizabeth outlaws the ritual; 1934 Oberammergau, Bavaria, as Hitler is rising to power; and Spearfish, South Dakota, from the time of Vietnam through Reagan’s presidency.

In each period, the players grapple with the transformative nature of art, and politics are never far in the background.

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
John The Fisherman / Eric / J	—	—	—
Mary 1 / Elsa	—	—	—
Mary 2	—	—	—
Visiting Friar / Visiting Englishman, Or Simon Lilly / Va Psychiatrist	—	—	—
Villiage Idiot / Violet	—	—	—
Carpenter 1, Sam / Carpenter 2, Johann / Ensemble	—	—	—
Carpenter 2, Simon / Ludwig / Ensemble	—	—	—
Director / Rochus Schallhammer	—	—	—
Machinist / German Officer / Young Director	—	—	—
Queen Elizabeth / Hitler / President Regan	—	—	—
Pontius The Fish Gutter / Footsoldier / P	—	—	—