Congratulations to Geoff Readman and his outstanding cast for their gripping portrayal of the 2008 Lincoln Mystery Plays. The plays, performed last week at Southwell Minster, are this week at home in Lincoln Cathedral. We witnessed last night’s pacy performance in the open air of the Cloisters and even the weather was good - they’ve not been so fortunate every night and I fear they can’t rely on it for the rest of the week either!
The players established a fictional community of Lincoln crafts folk and Guild members giving a ‘play within a play’ feel. Each ‘Guild’ or group of tradesmen offered their part in the event by presenting their particular play. For example the gardeners presented ‘Creation’ and the millers, ‘The Last Supper’.
The outstanding musical troupe led by Liam Robinson produced music and effects using traditional instruments and their songs were based on early Lincolnshire folk music. A particular highlight was ‘While Shepherds Watched their Flocks’ to the tune of ‘The Lincolnshire Poacher’. Many of the cast had outstanding singing voices.
Costume had a great impact on the production clearly depicting the wealth and resourcefulness of the tradesman combined with the particular biblical character they were attempting to portray.
Carrying the cross, and with his face on every poster, was Kevin Troughton who brought a very ‘normal bloke’ quality to the role of Jesus. Jason Hippisley (as a butcher) played a wonderfully vain and comic Herod who used his cleaver more often as a mirror than for chopping meat. Satan was a good match for the Holy Trinity played this year by not one but three actresses, Aggi Gunstone, Jo Hollingworth and Janet Smith, not dissimilar to Shakespeare’s witches.
A final mention for Liz Lucas who held it all together in the oft thankless role as Producer. I’m sure she doesn’t mean it when she says “Never again!”