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Mystic
Theatre
presents
Yeats: Lenten Plays
March 6th, 2004 8:00 pm
at
The
Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
10 47 Amsterdam Avenue
New York NY
Tickets $20 in Advance $25
at the Door
Student and Seniors receive
20% discount
Cathedral Box Office (212)
662-2133
Group Rates Available
Contact Mystic Theatre for
more info
IN MARCH OF 2003,
MYSTIC THEATRE PRESENTED THREE PLAYS BY WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS FOR
THE LENTEN SEASON. THE PRODUCTION FEATURED ORIGINAL MUSIC BY
KURT
VEGA,
FOR HARP, FLUTE, AND DRUM AND CHOREOGRAPHY BY
RENATA
CELICHOWSKA. A PROFESSIONAL CAST OF ACTORS
AND LARGER THAN LIFE PUPPETS SCULPTED BY MICHAEL
SYNATZKE
COMPLETED THE MULTI-MEDIA PRESENTATION OF THESE THREE STIRRING DRAMAS.
YEATS: PLAYS OF PASSION IS NOW AVAILABLE
FOR BOOKINGS AT YOUR VENUE. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT US AT mystic@nac.net
THE PLAYS
Purgatory
An old man and a boy return
to their ancestral home, where the old man had, long ago, committed patricide.
Re-living the horrible event, the old man kills his son to end the lineage
of violence. Instead of finding release in the murderous act, the old man
finds himself eternally stuck in the violent cycle.
Calvary
On the way to the crucifixion, Yeats
has Christ confronted by Lazarus and Judas, neither of whom, want the redemption
that Christ has to offer. Lazarus, cheated of death envies Christ for his
own death. Judas, cheated of freedom, is angry with Christ for preordaining
the act of betrayal.
 
Judas and Lazarus Puppets from Calvary
Christ Puppet from Calvary
sculpted by Michael
Synatzke
The Resurrection
A Greek and a Hebrew argue about the
meaning of Christ's life on the morning of Easter. Each believing that
they have managed to pigeon hole Christ into their own narrow expectations,
they are both scandalized by the sudden appearance of the ressurrected
Christ, who upends their worlds.
AUDIENCE
REACTION
My impression?
Well, yes, the first:
Purgatory, is disturbing.
But it is the good
kind...something
that shakes you into the reality
of the Old Man
in each of us. Although it is not a
“feel good” piece,
it was performed masterfully.
The Calvary
play...written before
Purgatory I think
is my favorite. I just think it was
interesting that
Yeats should explain the motive
of Judas as not
greed for money, but greed for
power over Jesus.
Again — performance was very
thoughtful, intense,
and almost haunting. I admire
the performers
so much — their discipline,
understanding,
and talent. The use of puppets ~
presenting Lazarus
and Jesus in larger than life
medium did the
trick. One does feel sorry for
Lazarus returning
to earthly life.....but then, it
was to please Martha
and Mary — yes?
I saw The
Resurrection as a bit playful —
but still respectful
of the typical Hebrew, Greek,
and Syrian beliefs
and perspectives. I thought
that the actors
themselves showed that they
enjoyed these parts.
And what a line: “The heart
of the phantom
is beating.” I have reflected on
that for some time....those
phantoms in our lives...
what we think are
mere phantoms, have beating
hearts! And, in
the life of faith... sometimes one
acts as if Jesus
is only a phantom... yet his heart
—beats real!
As you can
tell, I appreciated this work so
much. It is great
theatre and stretches one’s
appreciation for
the art of the word and drama.
The original music
was rich...and the
choreography was
awesome... very artistic. It was
a powerful experience.
I do hope that others will
have the opportunity
to enjoy the Yeats Plays as
the Mystic Theatre
presents them.
Sister Mary Theresa
Wojcicki, SCC
Assumption College
for Sisters
Academic Dean/
Registrar.
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