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Passion (Nichols)
Peter Nichols
Passion Play (Ruhl)
by Sarah Ruhl
Highlights
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 |
|---|
| 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 |
Videos
Sarah Ruhl on Passion Play
Publication
Passion Play (Ruhl) is a comedy play written by Sarah Ruhl and published by Samuel French .
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Performance Rights
Available for Licensing
Amateur & Professional
Fee: Minimum Fee: $130 per performance
Restrictions: Major Markets Only (US) / Standard Restriction (UK)
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