Jesus’ Blood

Synopsis:

Jesus’ Blood is a monumental tale that splices together the lives of characters as disparate as a homeless ‘vagabond’, a world-famous author with a fatwah taken out against him and a bewildered police constable, a much-reviled revisionist historian and a nursing home resident with a lobotomy, and a two-timing dramatist and a tortured priest.

In so doing, it examines – through a brilliant narrative and conceptual device – the aperture between thought and deed.  Is this the space where evil hides – between word and action – or is it in the space between individuals?

A terrible crime has been committed.  Everyone has blood on their hands.  And no-one has.  Through the interplay of these people’s lives, and those of their alter egos in cyberspace, we are given a rare, biting, profound and ultimately deeply moving insight into the very essence of human morality – all of it based around ‘Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet’, the extraordinary cult work of composer Gavin Bryars.

Character Breakdown:

The play is a 12-hander:  5 females, 7 males (see script for doublings)

Male

ARNOLD KORMAN – Playwright,  40, married to
EMMA CHRISTCHILD – 34
TRAMP – 60
ANWAR SEMAAN – Writer, 46
FATHER GOODFELLOW  – 50s
JULIAN BERG – Historian, late 50s
BILL – Policeman, 40s, married to CECILIA
GEORGE BOK* – A patient, early 50s
MIKHAIL KUNZEL* – A patient, 70s
MR MOHAMED – 40s
GRAND WIZARD
PANGLOSS
CANDIDE
BARRISTER
CAMERAMAN
RECORDIST

Female
EMMA FROST – Human rights activist, 30s, married to ARNOLD
IMOGEN BARBER – Critic, 30s
DIVA – 30s
DR PENELOPE HYDE – General practitioner, 30s
CECILIA – Nursing sister, 30s, married to BILL
LILLITH SAMPSON* – Patient, 80s
IRIS BERG* – Patient, 80s
SELINA SEVILLE – Editor, 40s
CUNEGONDE
POLICEWOMAN – 30s
MASSEUSE
WAITRESS

Production Note:

The set is Escher on speed. The acting is stylised.

* These characters are played using masks, etc. to heighten stylisation.

Running-time: 4 hours 30 minutes.

Production History: 2-week workshop with Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne 1995.

Excerpt available for download for free.