 ROCK NATIVITY
Musical in two acts
Book & lyrics by David Wood: Music by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent
Wimbledon Theatre, London - 23 February, 1976
The Story
ACT I
All the cast, the size of which is variable, are assembled to retell
the Christmas story in the form of a modern equivalent of the mediaeval
mystery play. They all play the chorus, and individually become the
characters in the story as required.
The play opens with the traditional picture of the nativity scene
in the stable at Bethlehem. The Evangelist recalls the prophesies of
the Old Testament and the Chorus sing a hymn of praise, leading to
a flashback of how the story started. In Nazareth Gabriel makes his
visitation to Mary, who sings the Magnificat. Joseph returns from working
on the house he is building for himself and Mary to live in after their
marriage. He is disturbed and bewildered by the news of Mary's pregnancy,
but Gabriel's explanation and Mary's obvious sincerity convince him
that God lies made him part of His unprecedented plan; he is to become
guardian of God's only-begotten Son the King of the Jews.
But Herod is the earthly King of the Jews, and in Jerusalem defends
his right, by decree from Rome, to remain 10.
Far away in Persia, the three Wise Men discuss their predictions:
the stars point to the birth of a King, a spiritual leader, a universal
magnate. As they talk, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars appear to align with
each other in the sky, creating the brightest star the Wise Men have
ever seen. They decide to follow it; it will lead them to where the
new King is born.
Back in Nazareth, Herod announces Caesar's decree that every citizen
must report for a census and tax-gathering in the town of his birth.
Joseph and Mary, who is heavily pregnant, have to set off for Bethlehem.
They are joined by many other travellers on the road.
On arrival, they pass through the census point. As a soldier interviews
them, Mary nearly collapses. All the accommodation in Bethlehem is
already taken, but an innkeeper and his wife take pity on Joseph and
Mary and allow them to shelter in their stable. Joseph makes Mary at
comfortable as possible and reaffirms his love for her and his determination
to carry out God's will.
The Wise Men arrive in Jerusalem and have an audience with Herod.
They abruptly declare that they are searching for a new King. Herod
immediately smells a plot to dethrone him, but suggests they try Bethlehem.
where the prophecies once foretold the birth of a ruler of Israel,
and cunningly invites them to report back their findings. After the
Wise Men's departure he reflects on the dangers of being a King.
At night, on a hillside above Bethlehem, three shepherds bicker about
life under Roman occupation. After a comic interlude in which they
sing of the irony of shepherd's counting sheep to go to sleep, they
react terrified and amazed to Gabriel's arrival summoning the faithful
to worship Christ the King. born this night in a manger. Putting two
and two together, the shepherds set off to look in all the stables
of Bethlehem until they find Him.
Jesus has been born in the stable. Gabriel leads in the Wise Men and
the Shepherds who present their gifts and sing of the wonder of the
birth. contrasting the majesty of its meaning with the simplicity of
its circumstances.
ACT II
Everybody jubilantly sings of the glory of the Christmas story.
Herod interrupts the Jubilation to discuss the latest situation with
his secretary. The Wise Men have not returned so he assumes they have
not found their so-called new King.
Meanwhile the Wise Men, influenced by Gabriel, decide it would be
impolitic to inform Herod of the fulfilment of their prediction, and
start their journey home. Herod, to quell his fear, sends his henchmen
to investigate the Wise Men's progress.
In the temple in Jerusalem Simeon, the elderly priest who the Holy
Spirit promised would see the Son of God before he dies, is conducting
a blessing service. Parents present their children to God and make
their offerings. Mary and Joseph bring the baby Jesus to Simeon, who
recognises the Christ child and ecstatically blesses him. The old man
can now die peacefully, but not before he is interrogated by Herod's
spies.
Back in the stable, Mary sings to her baby, with the realisation that
one day she will lose Him to His higher purpose. Joseph suggests they
stay in Bethlehem because God might like them to as further fulfilment
of the prophecies that the Son of God will be barn of the family of
David. But their plans swiftly change when the innkeeper's Wife arrives,
hysterical because her husband has been arrested by Herod's henchmen
for questioning - they have traced the Wise Men's movements to the
stable, and heard about the birth.
In Jerusalem Herod interrogates the Innkeeper and realises that he
is too late - the baby and the parents, as well as the Wise Men, have
escaped. So he utters his cruel solution to the threat to his throne:
every male child of two years or under is to be killed.
The chorus is stunned by this news, and Mary echoes their feelings
by questioning how a loving God con allow such evil and suffering in
His world.
Gabriel arrives to aid the Holy Family's escape to Egypt, and, surrounded
by the lamentation of bereaved mothers as Herod's soldiers carry out
Herod's decree, they set off. A soldier stops them and plunges his
sword through their travelling beg in case they have a baby concealed.
But Mary hat hidden the baby Jesus under her cloak. They flee to Egypt.
Herod dies. The threat to Jesus' life is. thus removed, and Gabriel
tells Mary and Joseph they can return from exile to Nazareth where
a new beginning awaits them. The chorus all herald the dawn of a new
tomorrow in a final universal message of hope. |
