Crucifixion witnesses playlet
A short little drama to be played out in Kilcullen Parish Church on Good Friday evening will take a look at the Crucifixion from a somewhat different angle, writes Brian Byrne.
Played by local drama stalwarts Bernard Berney, Vivian Clarke and Philomena Breslin, the 5-minute production will represent the views of three witnesses to the event. The carpenter who made the cross; the soldier who placed the Crown of Thorns on Christ's head; and a woman who had been befriended by Jesus.
"The carpenter is quite satisfied with his workmanship, but he's concerned that he might not get paid for it," says Bernard. "Then the soldier, who has also whipped and beaten Christ on his road to the scene of crucifixion, looks into his victim's eyes and expects to see a beaten man; but all he sees is the pity of Christ for his tormentor."
The woman is someone who is of ill-repute amongst her people and she had followed Christ at a distance, feeling unworthy of the right to approach him; but he had come to her.
"Then, on Easter Sunday, when the tomb was opened, the carpenter realised that he had helped to kill the Son of God," Bernard says. "The soldier, on the other hand, became fearful that the risen Christ would seek him out to punish him. The woman was pleased, because she now knew that Jesus was the Son of God and would save us all. She persuades the other two that all will be well."
It's an awful lot of stuff for five minutes of dialogue. But the best stories are often the short ones.
The presentation will take place at 7.30pm.
