The play is produced by Peter Hutley, the Estate Owner so, in my ignorance, I expected just a tolerable, amateurish affair, but it would be an understatement if I say, to use an inelegant slang word, that I was thoroughly gobsmacked. It was a polished, professional production of the highest standard, made more commendable by the fact that only five of the cast of 270, including Jesus, were professional actors. The play is in three Acts: The Nativity and Childhood of Jesus, The Ministry of Jesus and The Passion and Ascension of Jesus. It lasts 6 hours including a half hour break for a picnic lunch, though light refreshments are also available for purchase.
Some of the reasons I wax lyrical about this production:
(a) Film versions are only 2 to 21/2 hours long as against 6 hours for the Wintershall production which could therefore include much more of Christ's life from Annunciation to Ascension.
(b) Whereas film versions frequently depart from Scriptural events and paraphrased the text, this play stuck faithfully to the language of the Gospels.
(c) Because the play was staged over a large area and we moved with the action, it facilitated realism by allowing the use of real horses (Roman), camels, donkeys, sheep, live fish (for the miraculous catch), pigeons (sold in the temple), a white dove (the Holy Spirit at Jesus' baptism) and so on. Even Baby Jesus was a real live, crying baby. I wondered, naughtily, if he was given a sly pinch at the right time!!!
(d) Children from the audience joyfully joined certain scenes for a few minutes. The miracle of the loaves and fishes came to life because we, the audience of 2500 (as against the Scriptural 5000) momentarily became part of the crowd as hungry recipients of some tasty morsels of Jewish style bread. I was unworthy enough to wish that Jesus had also provided some creamy Danish butter!!!
(e) The acoustics were excellent, even for my semi-deaf ears as all performers wore hidden microphones for the numerous discreetly located loudspeakers
(f) While I did (and still do) recommend Mel Gibson's film ‘The Passion of the Christ’ that film dealt only with the last 12 hours of Christ's agony. This play, on the other hand, being 3 times as long covered the whole of Christ's life and, as a bonus, the squeamish among you will be spared Mel Gibson's graphic scenes of Roman brutality. The handsome, bearded young professional playing Jesus, shows us a cheerful, smiling, happy and gregarious Christ as opposed to the grave and serious Christ of past film productions.
(g) I myself have not seen the Oberammergau Passion Play, but someone in the audience said that the Wintershall play is as good.
(h) The background music includes, among others, works by Bach, Mahler, Ravel, Sibelius, Stravinsky and music from Taize
All the foregoing means that we strongly recommend that you see this play next summer. At £13 per head (£6.50 for children) it is real value far money. You may also order by post either a 2 Video set or a 2 DVD set for £28.00 plus £2.00 for packing and posting. The address is The Wintershall Charitable Trust, Bramley, Surrey, GU5 OLR. Tel: 01483 892167: e-mail address is enquiries@wintershall-estate.com. The trust shares any surplus income between local and other charities.
David de Souza