It's 4:45 p.m. and there's no one in the fellowship hall in the basement of Pearce Memorial Church in North Chili. The lights burn brightly though, and a storage closet gapes open, revealing countless robes, headscarves, and sandals. It's quiet but expectation hangs in the air like pre-thunderstorm humidity. Just moments later the room and the adjoining hallways come alive with people, many wearing identical dark green tee shirts. They search through the costumes, smiling, greeting each other. Makeup artists begin setting up stations and a seamstress takes her place behind a sewing machine. Jim Pringle arrives, toting his costume over one shoulder, and says hello to Norm Everett. Pringle and Everett are just two of the more than 140 cast members in "Who Will Call Him King of Kings," this year's Easter musical at Pearce. The church has been producing Easter musicals, known as passion plays, for 15 years. In addition to the cast, nearly 100 others support the production, doing everything from building sets to greeting those who come to watch. It's 5 p.m., Pringle, who in addition to playing the part of the Magistrate is helping with publicity for this year's production, takes a visitor upstairs to see the set. The stairway up to the sanctuary is marked with reflective tape and littered with spent phosphorescent light sticks, used the night before to help the actors find their way once the house lights are turned off. The church's arched windows are covered with black plastic and the chancel is unrecognizable. A prison wall has been constructed where an altar would usually stand. Dean Davis, the play's producer and Pearce's Worship and Arts Pastor, is vacuuming the sand-colored rug covering the floor of the set. "This is a very moving experience for the people who are involved," said Pringle, who has been part of the production for the past three years. His sister, Lori Garrett, who is a Pearce member and annual participant in the passion play, urged him into it. "After the last curtain comes down and the cast party is out of the way, it's a let down." 5:07 p.m. Todd Rapp, assistant director of the production, arrives. This play is a Rapp family affair; Todd's wife, Kathy, is the director, his son, Glenn, a junior at Churchville-Chili, is stage manager, daughter, Margaret, runs a spotlight. Many families participate in the production together, Rapp says. "We start way back before Christmas," adds Rapp, who, along with his family, has been involved with the show in different capacities for the past 11 years. "First we read scripts and decide what performance to do. Then early in January there are auditions. Rehearsals start immediately after that. We start as a group of strangers, but be spending time together, praying for each other, we grow to care a lot about each other." Davis turns off the vacuum and heads off to take care of some other details. Back in the fellowship hall, 5:22 p.m. It's busier now, with lots of robed people wandering about. Several men wearing heavy makeup sit gathered around a television, watching college basketball. Children dart between tables and groups of adults. One young woman sits alone at a table, her long light-blue headpiece falling incongruously over the edge of her open Chemistry textbook. Kristina Keim, a Churchville native and Roberts Wesleyan sophomore, drapes a towel over her clothes in order to have her makeup applied. Kristina plays one of the leading roles, that of the slave girl Verenia. "When I was nine or ten, I saw this same show," she says. "Every since then I dreamed of playing this part. I learned all of the songs when I was a little girl because I knew I would need to know them." Kristina's brother, Rob, is also in the show this year, her father, Bob, is videotaping, her mother, Bev, is an "avid attender." Kristina has to finish getting ready; curtain is less than an hour away. Linda Tyree of Spencerport is playing the role of Daphne. At 5:37, she's ready to go but her daughter, Ashley, 12, a member of the chorus, and her husband, George, a Pharisee, are still getting ready. Ashley started acting in Pearce productions when she was three months old as the baby Jesus in the living nativity. "It's in our blood, Linda says of her family's commitment to the productions. "It's a nice family thing. The entire family can serve the Lord together." This year's musical tells the story of Jesus' last days and the crucifixion through a series of flashbacks. "It's a wonderful feeling to be on stage, to be part of this story, Pringle says. "But the best part is the impact this show has on the audience. We know that we are making a difference in people's lives. Each night the cast goes out into the lobby to meet the audience. There is always someone sharing how the show has touched them in some way." Disjointed music comes from a room adjoining the fellowship hall as the musicians begin to warm up. Those in the opening scene begin to gather together. At 6:07 p.m., the tension is rising. One little girl in resplendent purple starts to cry, her mother is in the first scene but she doesn't come on until later. Waiting with grandma isn't something she wants to do. 6:20 p.m. In the foyer upstairs, Pastor Harold Scott greets those arriving to see the production. People stream through the double doors, chatting as volunteer greeters collect their free tickets. The production is funded through donations, the sale of advertisements in the program, a free will offering, and a few generous benefactors. "I come every year," one woman says to the man sitting in the pew next to her. "It's important to remember what He did for us." 6:32 p.m. The lights dim and music swells. It begins. Editor's note: "Who Will Call Him King of Kings" performances are Saturday, April 3 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 4 at 3 p.m. The matinee on April 3 will be interpreted for people with hearing impairments. Tickets, which are free, are available at Pearce Memorial Church and Roberts Cultural Life Center Box Office. |
