Easter musical by Irvine Mormons leaves out Jesus Christ's face
'Savior of the World,' now at the Irvine stake of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, has a cast of 190 Mormons - but the
story's title character is out of sight.
By CAMERON BIRD
Friday, March 21, 2008
The Orange County Register
Staff Writer
There are 190 cast members listed in the program for the Irvine
production of the Mormon-made musical, "Savior of the World," but the
identity of Jesus Christ remains a mystery.
"Everyone's vision of Jesus is a little different," said co-director
Linda Simmons, explaining the omission following Wednesday night's
opening performance.
Split into two acts, "Savior of the World" recounts only the bookends
of the Christ story: his modest birth and his surreal rebirth. At no
point in the 2 1/2-hour performance does the audience get a full flash
of the protagonist's face, shrouded during the second act by the hood
of an ashen robe.
Mark Mortensen, who plays the sagacious disciple Peter, said the
portrayal taps into a truth forgotten by many contemporary Christians.
"You believe because of what you feel, not because of what you see,"
he said.
And when warm halogen and ellipsoidal spotlights cascade over the
resurrected Christ and the actor's velvety voice rises, audience
members seated in the first few rows can certainly feel it.
"We wanted to create an immersive experience," said Simmons, who
brings to bear experience as a commercial director for Disney and
Mattel.
Unlike past productions of "Savior of the World," Irvine's is "in the
round," meaning that the audience surrounds the stage. Standing on
three separate balconies that line the theater's perimeter, more than
100 Church members compose an ethereal "angel chorus."
In addition to the elaborate set and setting, Simmons scented the
theater with frankincense, myrrh, cedar and pine. "The smells of
Jerusalem," she said.
Both the cast and crew worked pro bono. If not for that, Simmons said,
"Savior of the World" would've been a $500,000 production.
This was an "exercise in loaves and fishes," she added, alluding to
the biblical story in which Christ multiplies food for the starving
masses. Exactly where all the motivated talent came from, she said, is
an open question.
For tickets, visit www.irvineproductions.com
http://www.truthandgrace.com/Mormon.htm
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