Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption

By: DJ

By: Amos Lassen

Very few plays cause such word-of-mouth as Terrence McNally's, "Corpus Christi" and this is even more interesting when we consider how few people have actually seen a production. From the moment that anyone ever heard about it, there was controversy. Now word is out about a documentary film, "Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption" by Nic Amen and James Brandon which follows the play and its journey. Last I heard, the crew had not yet received enough funds to finish the product but that may well have changed by now.

There is no question about the importance of a project like this and I, for one, hope that the movie is produced. It is a love story about hope at a time when hope seemed scarce and dissension was everywhere. It is the story of brave actors who came together to do a simple play but then became more of a movement of change in our community as we struggled to find our voice and to stand up for what is right.

The plan of the movie is to follow the troupe of actors and the playwright and to hear them share their stories and we will hear from various communities where hatred and bigotry have the upper hand. When we deal with religion, there are many misconceptions and misrepresentations. It is hoped that his film and the play that it is about will bring us together and close the existing gaps and those that do not know us will be able to see us as we really are and not how they have been to believe.

The play, "Corpus Christi" is the Jesus story retold and set in 1950 in Corpus Christi, Texas. When the show opened in Manhattan in 1998, there were loud protests as well as bomb threats. Religious zealots called it a blasphemy and the hoopla around the play caused more controversy than did the play itself. McNally said that his intention was to create a play that was inclusive to all people.

In the documentary we see anti-gay religious groups reacting to the play about gay Jesus. The film follows the acting troupe, playwright, and audiences across the U.S. and around the world on a 5-year journey where voices of protest and support collide on one of the central issues facing the LGBT community ? religion based bias. "Challenging issues of civil rights, marriage equality and separation of church and state, this production has become a remarkable vehicle of positive change for a community struggling to find its voice. Meanwhile, the company of actors finds itself on a journey that would forever change their lives".

In "Corpus Christi", McNally gives us his own unique view of the story of Christ, and in doing so provides us with one of the most vivid and moving passion plays written. This controversial new play is an affirmation of faith and a drama of such power and scope that it has been called blasphemy by the religious right and hailed by audiences and critics alike as one of his best and most poignant works to date. It was accepted that it would generate discussion on Christianity and sexuality and McNally stated: "I wanted this play in the hands of a Christian person like myself to give it dignity but still open it up to answering questions about Christianity as a faith system." Because the play dared to explore homosexuality and its themes, it was condemned by the Catholic League as blasphemous and sacrilegious as well as anti-Catholic. The playwright's life was threatened when the play was onstage and it was scheduled to open in New York several times but it was cancelled until October 13, 1998 when it finally opened. From then on its history is spotted. The film we have here is about the staging of the play and the reception it received.