Change of Plans

“Mimi, we can’t go to Carter Family Fold tonight after all,” my granddaughter Bethany, told me over the phone. She and her husband, Jesse, had planned to take us out to dinner this last evening of our visit in Jonesborough, and were excited to treat us to an evening of music at the original home site of June Carter and the Carter family. “They aren’t open on Friday night after all,” she explained. Then she said, “Would it be alright to go out to eat and then go to the Lamp Light Theatre?” I remembered the Christian Playhouse, but had never been there. Of course it was alright!

After a wonderful meal at an upscale casual café named Cheddar’s, we followed the winding roads through the countryside to arrive at the theatre, nestled into a wooded glen and occupying a long, low-slung building. “FRIEND OF SINNERS”, the name of the production, was prominently displayed on a wooden sign out front. Bethany thought the play was kind of a Passion play, but it was so much more.

We had arrived with only minutes to spare before the lights went down to illuminate a panoramic set with marble steps and plaza, used, according to the scene, as the temple, Pilate’s hall, and the Sanhedrin. Tucked into room-like displays in corners and spotlighted appropriately, were Zebedee’s house, the home of Mary of Bethany, the upper room and scene of the Last Supper. A door to the tomb seemed carved into the brickwork at the lower level.

I was enthralled with the “up-close-and-personal”, three-dimensional look into the activities of depicted life in Jerusalem. Homes had pots, baskets, bedrolls, shelves and other authentic-looking details. Beggars begged, dancers danced, children frolicked, families argued, and Jesus taught. In everyday language and with local accents, believable dialogue and acting presented a clear picture and wonderfully human aspect of Jesus and his teachings. It felt as if we were transported back in time.

Before we knew it, three hours had passed and Jesus was being caught up into the rafters and disappearing from sight. As an anti-climax, a powerful candle-lit display of white-robed choirs, singing Midnight Cry, reinforced the altar call given, and at the end, Jesus returned in triumphant robes, a resplendent crown and holding a sceptre as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We were quiet on the way home until our grandson-in-law broke the silence and lightened the mood when he said, “I went to high school with Jesus,” referring to the young actor who gave such a brilliant portrayal of our Lord. I had no doubt that Jesus had also gone to high school with them.