Curtain closing on ‘The Story of Jesus’ – Sarasota Herald
After 30 years, Wauchula passion play’s final performance is April 21
WAUCHULA — Thinking Jesus dead, a quartet of demons rises amid filtered red light from beneath the ground outside the tomb. With faces evoking the glitter-band KISS, they appeal to the doomed souls of zombie-like children in rhythmic choreography that could’ve been an outtake from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”
But the ghastly celebration is cut short when the tomb door slides open and Christ appears amid bright light and clouds of mist. With white-gowned angels suspended from the rodeo arena ceiling and converging on the scene, Satan’s minions are dispersed by scores of joyful disciples, young and old, who spread the news in song. Jesus ascends to heaven upon practically invisible cables as the bleachers erupt in cheers.
But wait — the house lights come on, and Jesus reappears once more, atop a white horse. Wearing a crown, white gloves, and sequined garments of red and white, the Prince of Peace expertly canters his steed to near-capacity applause. He then levels his sword and gallops the length of the football field-sized stage, charging to and fro against an unseen challenge in a tuneup for the second coming.
“The Story of Jesus” staged here in rural Wauchula has become such a kinetic spectacle, it has merited coverage from the likes of the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. Some critics have compared it to the passion play in Oberammergau, Germany, which has been dazzling
Article source: http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20180331/curtain-closing-on-the-story-of-jesus