DAYSTAR: A MEDIEVAL CHRISTMAS PLAY
Talisman Theatre
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The medieval passion play was designed as religious instruction for a largely illiterate population. Attention spans of such audiences being little longer than those of today’s, the depictions of the sacred texts would often be intercut with low comedy scenes, songs, and dances, or spectacularly contrived special effects.
The plays of the 15th century reflect a society in which religion was a comfortable part of daily existence. That’s no longer true in our culture. Daystar serves quite well not only as reaffirmation for believers, but as an introduction to Christian mythology for those who may wonder precisely what all the annual late-December brouhaha is really all about.
