科珀斯·克里斯蒂 (1998)

Corpus Christi is a 1998 American play by Terrence McNally, written in 1997 and first staged in New York in 1998, dramatizing the story of Jesus and the Apostles, depicting Jesus and the Apostles as gay men living in modern-day Texas. McNally arranges the narrative through anachronisms that represent Roman occupation.

Character list

The play was written for 13 male actors, all of which will play a variety of roles except Joshua and Judas.

Joshua – represents Jesus

John – a writer, brother to James

Also plays: Angry Man in motel, Dub Taylor, Hypocrite, Simon of Cyrenae

James – a teacher

Also plays: Woman Next Door in motel, Jimmy, Little Boy

Peter – a young man who sells fish

Also plays: Mary, Spider Sloan

Andrew – a masseur

Also plays: Man Next Door in motel, Bert Moody, Pilate's Wife

Philip – a hustler

Also plays: Joseph, Mrs. McElroy, Carpenter, Pontius Pilate

Bartholomew – a doctor and James’ lover

Also plays: Motel Manager, Peggy Powell, Nun

Judas Iscariot – a restaurateur

Matthew – a lawyer

Also plays: Frightened Woman in motel, Priest, High Priest, Philistine

Thomas – an actor

Also plays: Room Service #3, Sister Joseph, Patricia, Lazarus, Soldier

James the Less – an architect

Also plays: God, Billy Brown, Poor Woman

Simon – a singer

Also plays: Room Service #1

Thaddeus – a hairdresser

Also plays: Room Service #2, Roman Centurion, Barrabas

Stage design

The stage is very minimal with benches upstage for the characters to sit on while not participating in a scene. When the actors enter and exit scenes, they simply step forward to the stage or backward to the benches. The play was written with only two design elements in mind— a small pool of water and a fire, both on the stage floor.

Synopsis

The audience meets each character at the very beginning of the play after each is baptized by the character John. After each baptism, the actor speaks directly to the audience to give a description of their character. In this scene, Joshua is told by John he is the Son of God, and then Joshua baptizes John. The next scene is a description of Mary birthing Joshua in a motel which begins and ends with the actors singing lyrics of modern-day Christmas songs. The play cuts rapidly between conversations amongst the characters at the motel where God eventually speaks to Joshua to direct him and tell him what will happen in his life.

Next, the characters move quickly through different settings of high school, focusing on prom where Joshua wins the superlative "Most Likely to Take it Up the Hershey Highway." Then, Joshua and Judas kiss in the boys' bathroom and later make out on the beach. The next day Joshua begins to wander and travel. He hitches a ride with a blind truck driver and Joshua heals him of leprosy and heals his eyes so that he can see. The truck driver kicks Joshua out so that he can help the world with his powers.

The next scene first takes place with Joshua in the desert, representing the Bible story of Jesus' 40 days and nights spent in the desert. Then, Joshua finds his way into the city where he performs the many miracles that Jesus is capable of. After these miracles, all twelve actors stand together to represent the twelve disciples. Joshua goes on to marry James and Bartholomew to each other because no one else would. McNally emphasizes here that Joshua chose to focus on the love aspect of scripture rather than the judgement aspect.

They all return to Corpus Christi to act out the Last Supper and then Joshua's crucifixion. Judas betrays Joshua and turns him in to Pontius Pilate. The disciples then act as the city's people and vote to save the life of Barabbas the thief and have Joshua crucified for being gay. For the crucifixion, Thaddeus nails the first nail, Matthew nails the second and third nails that pin Joshua to the cross. From the crowd, some disciples mock Joshua and accuse him of not being the Son of God because he is being murdered for being gay. This scene is gruesome to emphasize the pain that hate causes.

Similar to the beginning, the play ends with the actors addressing the audience to provide an explanation. They state that Joshua, in reference to Jesus, loved everyone despite their potential sins.

Reception

The play received critical attention for its exploration of gay themes in Christianity. It was also condemned by Catholic League, a Roman Catholic watchdog group, for what they viewed as blasphemy, sacrilege, and anti-Christian bigotry. The play was subsequently cited in chain letters that falsely claimed it would be adapted as a film, part of a hoax that predated the play.

Productions

The planned production of the play in New York City was canceled and then reinstated. Because of protests, the producer of the play, the Manhattan Theatre Club, withdrew the play in May 1998, worried about possible violence. They then quickly reinstated it, stating that they did not believe in censorship but also noting that security precautions would be taken. The play opened Off-Broadway in a Manhattan Theatre Club production at New York City Center Stage 1 on October 13, 1998, directed by Joe Mantello, and closed on November 29, 1998. The original production featured the following cast:

Joshua – Anson Mount

John – Michael Irby

James – Sean Dugan

Peter – Michael Hall

Andrew – Greg Zola

Philip – Matthew Mabe

Bartholomew – Jeremy Shamos

Judas Iscariot – Josh Lucas

Matthew – Drew McVety

Thomas – Christopher Fitzgerald

James the Less – Ken Leung

Simon – Ben Sheaffer

Thaddeus – Troy Sostillio

Corpus Christi received its British premiere in 2000, produced by Theatre 28 and directed by Stephen Henry. When it was produced as part of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Anglican bishop Robert Forsyth considered the play to be offensive and historically incorrect.