Corpus Christi retells the life of Jesus Christ and whilst it does not lose any of the meaning or passion of the original it successfully adds new layers of humanity. This humanisation of the divine is where the controversy surrounding this play lies as Jesus, or Joshua (James Brandon) as he is renamed in the production happens to be a gay man in 1950s America.
Joshua’s very human experiences of love, persecution and rejection make his ability to show acceptance, forgiveness and love to all even more profoundly moving. James Brandon delivers a powerful performance within this role; you feel the pain of his parents’ neglect, the torment of his abuse at school and the anguish of being betrayed by those he holds most dear.
Producer Nic Arnzen’s cast is as diverse as his audience with men and women of mixed ages, ethnicities and sexualities playing the roles of the twelve disciples and a host of characters from the life of Christ.
Though controversial, the play was never intended to create friction between the religious community and gay people or shock amongst the general public. In the words of the playwright Terrence McNally ‘The play is meant to enlarge people’s understanding of the divinity in each of us and at the same time, to include gay men and women in the story of Christ’s life and encourage a return to spirituality’.
Despite these good intentions however, Corpus Christi is still bound to cause offence to those too close minded to accept that (homo) sexuality and spirituality are not mutually exclusive. Where this production is indisputably triumphant though is in demonstrating that homophobia and hatred damage all members of the society; the persecuted, the perpetrators and all those caught in between.
From the start this play is both honest and open, with the cast laying their ambitions bare and playing their roles with the sincerity and fervour they deserve. Chris Payne in particular shines in the challenging role of Judas, simultaneously consumed by love and a covetous fury for Joshua who shows unconditional love and forgiveness that he simply cannot comprehend.
Corpus Christi will move anyone that goes to see it with and open heart and remains one of the bravest plays you are likely to see.
4/5
Matthew Straw
