THE
GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD…THE PASSION PLAY CÓMPETA
It
is years since I first saw the annual Cómpeta Passion
Play. Since then they have improved the sound, restaged
it, recast bits of it, and tweaked it in all sorts of
ways. The only thing they haven’t done is alter the
script, which has more than stood the test of time. The
production is sheer theatrical magic.
The
play tells the story of the last week of Jesus´ life on
earth. It starts with his entry into Jerusalem on the
back of a donkey and ends, of course, with his
crucifixion. The people of Cómpeta tell the story
in a plain unvarnished way. What makes it spectacular is
their extraordinary enthusiasm and the biblical setting
of Cómpeta itself, under the shadow of the Sierra
Almijara.
It
starts (usually late) at 12.00 am on Good Friday in the
Plaza Vendimia. Jesus, (played by the local priest
, Jose Luis, now our Mayor more about him later*)
enters on a burro surrounded by an excited crowd
of palm waving townsfolk. He quickly dismounts and
flings himself into the life of the town. He confronts
the moneychangers in the temple, we witness the kiss of
Judas´, the amputation and healing of the soldiers ear,
the cock crowing & dawn rising as Peter recognizes his triple denial, the Last Supper, all the stories we
have grown up with, yet told afresh here, as if for the
very first time.
The
brutality of the Roman soldiers as they lay on the lash,
the wringing wrists of Pilate, the freeing of Barrabas,
all these finely acted moments lead inexorably to
Calvary. And here the play takes an immense leap of
faith…in more ways than one.
Now
the cast of 100´s and lookers-on, follow the real-time
journey of 37 year-old Father Jose Luis who climaxes his
moving performance as Jesus by carrying the life-size
wooden cross through the steep streets of Cómpeta, past
the fourteen stations of the cross, to a building site
high above the town. There we see the two thieves, ready
and waiting to join Jesus for the final sacrifice.
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Every
time I have witnessed this moment, I have never failed to be moved to tears. It is to be seen rather than described.
Suffice to say, the whole production resounds with light
and colour, with freshness and vitality, and with
soul-searing moments of, sometimes uncomfortable,
truths.
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*Jose
Luis is no longer our Priest, but our Mayor, and a very
good one he has proved to be so far. He will
also still be playing Jesus in the passion play, (he is
presently growing a beard, which is a good sign). In
which case we will be able to witness again this
remarkable production.
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Synopsis & above
pictures compiled by our good friend David
Goodland.
Processions
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday
This procession
celebrates the entry into Jerusalem by Jesus on a donkey
1-10
Good Friday
11-20
The day starts with an
early morning procession in which only men take part,
chanting all the way, stopping at certain points when
prayers are said. (16) Later in the morning is the
Passion play, followed in the evening by a procession
depicting the crucifixion, the last procession takes
place close to midnight in which only the women of the
village take part , following the float carrying Mary
Magdalene (the only men involved are carrying the
float).
Easter Sunday
21-33
After The somber events
of Good Friday, Easter Sunday is a much livelier affair,
which after all, is a celebration of the resurrection.
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The processions involve
one or more Statues, on floats, carried from the church,
(depending on the day, as to which ones), around
the village, usually headed by our local band and the
priest, following behind are the townsfolk.
(visitors are
more than welcome to join the processions).
These floats are
extremely heavy and usually take at least 20 able bodied
men to carry them
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Semana Santa
is I believe only celebrated in this way in the Spanish
speaking countries of the World
If you have never
witnessed such an event, and you have the opportunity.
Please go to at least one procession
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