The space takes on another air. The Cast is now in full storytelling
mode. Jesus watches his life as a teenager when he had the first intimations
of who he was
It is Passover. Joseph, Mary & now a teenage Jesus are on their way
to the temple. As they travel Mary starts to tell Jesus the story of Noah.
It is a story of wrong doing amongst men. Mary is beginning to instruct
Jesus on who he is and what his role in life will be. Jesus plays with
a toy ark.
Noah & The Ark
The story that Mary tells is brought to life. Mary acts out the role
of Noah’s wife. Joseph becomes Noah
God has asked Noah to do an extraordinary thing and Noah has accepted
this job. Noah begins to build the ark – the huge ribs of a boat
are put in place.
The Animals Enter
The Community Cast is now presenting a large-scale, three- dimensional
version of Mary’s story. So much so that animals appear in the space
and to the delight of the young Jesus they parade about. Jesus hops onto
a passing horse. It is all great fun. It begins to rain. Noah prays God
and calls everyone onto the Ark.
The Temple
In an instant the animals seem to disappear, the ark ribs become temple
pillars and we are transported to a scene in the Temple where young Jesus
prays the same prayer as Noah. The adult Jesus still watches.
Around the Temple the scene turns into a marketplace. There is lots of
noise and bustle. Mary and Joseph who have been searching for Jesus, find
him and confront him as to why he had left them. Jesus tells them ‘I
am about my father’s work’.
On the way home, Jesus asks for the truth about his birth. Mary agrees
to tell him. A company of actors from Galway perform the Coventry Cycle.
The teenage Jesus watches the following. He walks through the scenes as
they are played out.
The Coventry Cycle
Three carts enter, the Galway cast begins to play out a Nativity scene.
Shepherds arrive. Pomp and ceremony as the Three Wise Kings arrive out
of the Trumpet Tree Cart. They also bring an air of danger, and leave
quickly.
Massacre of the Innocents
This air of danger is confirmed and an angel visits Joseph. Herod has
ordered the death of all boy children under two. Mary, Joseph and the
baby Jesus flee. The young Jesus is becoming unsure of what he’s
seeing. Mary motions him into the action.
Several women enter the space. They carry babies. Young Jesus walks amongst
them. The babies are killed and the young Jesus is covered in blood. He
walks back to Mary and the players& carts drift away.
The Ark is Saved
Mary takes Jesus back to the Noah story. The Ark has been floating on
water a long time. The dove arrives, with an olive branch. There’s
a rainbow in the sky and Noah and his family are saved. The flood has
receded. Jesus opens the doors to the ark and all the animals come out.
The dove hovers.
Mary explains: “You are the saviour to come, you are like Noah.”
Jesus now understands who he is. Mary washes the blood off Jesus.
