CURRENT LITERATURE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1926, Page 4

CURRENT LITERATURE

THE TRIAL OF JESUS. Although the story of Christ possesses great dramatic possibilities, modern playwrights have, for some reason, avoided it. Perhaps they have felt that no matter how reverent the treatment, any inadequacy in presentation—and perfection is unattainable—woubl have a jarring effect and offend the sensibilities. Yet tliere is ample precedent for tile choice ol this theme. In its beginnings the theatre was ultimutey associated with religion. 4 lie drama of Ancient Greece originated in the festivals held in honour of certain gods. English drama developed out of the mystery and miracle plays performed under the auspices of the Church. There arc, besides, the Passion plays, of which that of Ober-am-mergau is the best known. Hence in liis ‘•Trial of .Jesus” Air John Masefield revives a long-standing tradition.

This play has never been acted on the public stage, hut was privately produced not long ago at All' Masefield’s home near Oxford by a east which included some very distinguished names.

Air Alaslield approaches Ills subject from the same angle as Browning did in the “Epistle of Karshish.” He envisages the affair from the point of view of the contemporaries of Christ before His divinity had been recognised. Consider the position. Judaea was well aerustotltfki- -f-b ■ new religions. Continually out of the'East came prophets, zealots, crazy fanatics, who proclaimed their messages, attracted a few followers, and were then forgotten. AVliat, argued the authorities and the priesthood, was to distinguish this ■Galilean from the others, iroin that John, for instance, who had not long since predicted the advent of a great King, and had hail his head cut oil for criticising Herod's domestic arrangements ! True, on its ethical side Jesus’ teaching was innocuous. .Much of it, indeed, was ailmissable if rather too altruistic to appeal to a highly acquisitive race. But what ol its theological and political aspects:' This obscure shepherd from an insignificant, country village had the presumption to attack many practices of the. Established Church I And it was a question whether lie did not preach sedition against Rome into the bargain.

He talked largely in parables and metaphors, and it was difficult to pin him down. But some of his ambiguous utterances, at least, were capable of a treasonable construction, such as the common folk placed oil them. 'I hey added fuel to the agitations of the pestilent nationalists, and, to make matters worse, this was on the eve of th,o Passover. The atmosphere of Jerus-

alem was electric, and in the excitement of the feast anything might happen. Already there had boon a disturbance, in which Bar-Abbas had killed a man, and he now lay under sentence of death. Tiiis was the situation which Pilate, Procurator of ,Judaea, hail to handle. From tile material in the Gospels it is possible to draw two entirely dissimilar portraits of the man. The conventional one is a blase, indifferent weakling, who takes the line of least resistance. In (his play King Herod.

i cynical, witty llaneur conforms more to the orthodox concept of Pilate. The latter is depicted as a resolute, conscientious official, with a keen .souse of duty, one who is determined to administer the law. “I. too, have my religion,” lie says to Annas, "to serve my country as she bids. I believe in no (iod save Home." When his wile (ells him that this Jesus is not a dangerous man. but good, and that lie teaches beautiful things, Pilate replies: ‘'A man may have faultless morals and yet lie like Creek lire to his community. So with this man. If it fall to mo to judge Him, and the evidence condemn Him, I shall have Him killed whether lie says beautiful things or ugly tilings. oven if it end the world. This is what I have sworn to Caesar.” The immediate occasion of Christ's arrest is. of course, the information laid by .hake- Iscariot. More again All* .Masefield departs from tradition, though lie does not do violence to the facts as related in the Gospel. According to .Mr .Masefield's interpretation of them. Judas's motives wore not mercenary. It is legitimate to assume that tui to the entry in Jerusalem the disci ides may not have regarded Jesus as divine. Quite possibly they thought flint simply an inspired prophet, a man of super-human goodness with a divine message, hut still a man. AYlioii the crowds acclaimed Him as the .Messiah and Christ, accepted the title. Judas guile hone.-lK feels ilml this is going too far. it savours id blasphemy. Jesus' head lias been turned by adoration I Let the priests he told, and they will restrain Him. Judas never believed for a moment that His own action would have the coii.-e----(|Uonces that it did. The trial falls into two phases. In the first. Pilate finds that there is no evidence to support the charge of treason. hut that Jesus’ teachings, though excellent in intention, are likely to lead, and have in fact led, to disorder. Also Jesus’ offence has been aggravated by 11 is refusal to plead. Contumacy must, lie punished. Jesus is sentenced to he scourged. The sentence is carried out, hut the priests are not satisfied. They seize upon the word “King.” His followers had railed Jesus their King; he claims to ho a King in Israel. Ills pretensions will stir up grave disaffection among the foolish and ignorant. Pilate agrees that this is a. serious matter, and Jesus is once more brought before the tribunal. Again His trial is, according to Roman and Jewish lights, a perfectly fair one. Jesus is given every chance to defend Himself. He lias hut to disavow the charge to be set free. Hut lie will not. Pilate asks Him point blank whether ho claims to be a King. Jesus remains mute. His I silence is equivalent to an admission. He stands self-convicted of ail offence punishable by death under both Ro-

man and Jewish law. I’ilate has no alternative but to condemn Him. And so. on Good Friday, 33 A.D. by our reckoning. Jesus was crucified. Yet already victory was His. Says the Limit centurion: “H a man believes anything up to the point of dying on the cross for it. he will find others to lielieve it.” "Do you think He is dead?” asks Preeoula, wife of Pilate. “No, lady. I don’t” the centurion answers. “Then whe.v is He?” "Let loose in the world, lady, where neither Roman nor Jew can stop His truth.” The play is intensely moving and poignant. The words used by Jesus are taken from the Gospels, and Mr Masefield has provided them with a dignified ami impressive setting.