The Lower Room
by Pat Wooley

The Lower Room Book Cover — The Lower Room Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

Interior Set

Synopsis

This is a fascinating play retelling the story of Jesus' passion through the eyes of those who were the last of the followers at the cross, and the first at the tomb: women.

Invaluable for several reasons, the play (some may say at last) brings new light to the women in the Bible.

It answers: What were women doing, feeling, thinking while the men were gathered with Jesus in the Upper Room?

Who knows... perhaps they were gathered in the Lower Room.

Prior to publication, The Lower Room received over 17 productions, including a showing at the Women in Ministry conference at the Southern Baptist Convention, which brought it wide acclaim.

For over 30 years, this play has reached appreciative audiences with its fresh insights into the biblical accounts of Jesus' ministry, death and resurrection.

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
MARIA Mary of Jerusalem, mother of John Mark, whose home has traditionally been identified as the location of the Upper Room. Col. 4:10 indicates that she was a sister of Barnabas.	female	10	Mary of Jerusalem, mother of John Mark, whose home has traditionally been identified as the location of the Upper Room. Col. 4:10 indicates that she was a sister of Barnabas.
RHODA A servant girl. Mentioned in the book of Acts as being a young girl in the household of Mary of Jerusalem.	female	—	A servant girl. Mentioned in the book of Acts as being a young girl in the household of Mary of Jerusalem.
JOHN MARK Son of MARIA (Mary of Jerusalem), usually identified as “the young man” of Mark 14:51. Later to be the author of the second Gospel.	male	—	Son of MARIA (Mary of Jerusalem), usually identified as “the young man” of Mark 14:51. Later to be the author of the second Gospel.
MAGDALENA Mary Magdelene, a young to middle-aged woman, healed of a psychotic illness by Jesus. (There is no Scriptural evidence to support the tradition that she was a prostitute, and she is not thus presented here.)	female	—	Mary Magdelene, a young to middle-aged woman, healed of a psychotic illness by Jesus. (There is no Scriptural evidence to support the tradition that she was a prostitute, and she is not thus presented here.)
JOANNA Wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward. A well-to-do woman who was also healed by Jesus and who was part of the company of women who accompanies the disciples, ministering to their needs.	female	—	Wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward. A well-to-do woman who was also healed by Jesus and who was part of the company of women who accompanies the disciples, ministering to their needs.
SALOME Wife of Zebedee, mother of James and John.	female	—	Wife of Zebedee, mother of James and John.
MARIAMNE “The other Mary,” mentioned at the cross and the tomb, usually identified as the mother of James the Less, a disciple, and of Joses. She appears to have been the wife of Alphaeus.	female	—	“The other Mary,” mentioned at the cross and the tomb, usually identified as the mother of James the Less, a disciple, and of Joses. She appears to have been the wife of Alphaeus.
JUDAS Judas Iscariot, the treasurer of the group of disciples. If “Iscariot” is taken to mean “man from Kerioth,” he was the only non-Galilean among the disciples. Or it could have identified him as one involved with the underground Zealot movement.	male	—	Judas Iscariot, the treasurer of the group of disciples. If “Iscariot” is taken to mean “man from Kerioth,” he was the only non-Galilean among the disciples. Or it could have identified him as one involved with the underground Zealot movement.
MARTHA Sister of Lazarus and Mary of Bethany. The two sisters are not mentioned in the Passion accounts. Yet it seems inconceivable that, Bethany being less than two miles from Jerusalem, they would not have journeyed into the city to be present during the last hours of their Lord’s life. Martha was probably a widow, keeping house with her brother and sister.	female	—	Sister of Lazarus and Mary of Bethany. The two sisters are not mentioned in the Passion accounts. Yet it seems inconceivable that, Bethany being less than two miles from Jerusalem, they would not have journeyed into the city to be present during the last hours of their Lord’s life. Martha was probably a widow, keeping house with her brother and sister.
MIRIAM Mary of Bethany. The younger sister of Martha and Lazarus, perhaps an unmarried young woman, whose spiritual depth created a bond of understanding between herself and her Master.	female	—	Mary of Bethany. The younger sister of Martha and Lazarus, perhaps an unmarried young woman, whose spiritual depth created a bond of understanding between herself and her Master.
MARY Mother of Jesus. Since we find her at the scene of the crucifixion, it seems apparent that she was somewhere present in Jerusalem the previous night, most likely with the other women who faithfully followed him to the cross and the tomb.	female	—	Mother of Jesus. Since we find her at the scene of the crucifixion, it seems apparent that she was somewhere present in Jerusalem the previous night, most likely with the other women who faithfully followed him to the cross and the tomb.