The sword unsheathed

Sydney
7 April 2002

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The sword unsheathed

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Obituary: Fr Ted - at home in two St Joseph's

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The sword unsheathed

Director John Gresser makes a point

This year's Carnivale Christi sees the premiere performance of a play written by Sydney University chaplaincy team member Lucy O'Connell. Chris Hook reports

The Sword of Sorrow had its genesis in a simple concern, explains author Lucy O'Connell, a part-timer with the newly established chaplaincy team.

"I was complaining about how Life Theatre always chooses plays with many male roles, and never really has female roles and how irritating that was for the girls," Lucy recalls.

A solution seemed simple - write one herself. And so Lucy began work on The Sword of Sorrow, which she completed late last year.

Lucy labels the play "an Arthurian tale" that traces the mythological conflicts between Merlin, Morgan La Faye and Morgause in the period leading up to Arthur's rule and immediately following.

Life Theatre has developed a reputation for Catholic plays. Beginning with A Man for All Seasons (in 1999), it has since produced a Passion play (in 2000) and - for last year's Carnivale Christi - The Comedian, telling of the struggles of St Genesius, a Roman actor who performs the role of Christian martyr at the emperor's request.

How does an Arthurian tale fit this mould?

"It's a classic tale of good versus evil," says director John Gresser. "I think it's a timely message, because even though it appears at one point that evil has beaten the good, and all the good that Arthur was building up and trying to achieve had gone, what the play goes to show is that even though there is an eventual win for good, the principles that Arthur stood for - of honour, of nobility, chivalry - are alive today.

"You can't actually des troy the principle, even though at times, it appeared as though the evil forces had the majority, and the good forces beaten, even if they've been completely wiped out, the principles for which they fought live on.

"The Church today is a prime example. It appears to be in a state of crisis, being attacked from all angles, from without and within. But the Church is the mystical body of Christ, and she can never diminish, she'll be here until the end of time."

John is a Life Theatre stalwart, having played the lead in the last two productions, and enjoyed a substantial role in the first. But this is his directorial debut. A brand new work adds an extra dimension to the challenge.

"It's a big step up," he says. "But what I thought I'd bring to directing is my love of getting people to see the characters. Having the actors not just say their lines and move around stage, but encouraging the actors to become the characters and bring them to life."

There are 20 characters and 20 cast members ranging in age from 14 to 28. They have had barely two months to rehearse. But John is calm.

"There are times when I think, 'did I make the right choice,' but one of the most important things about the theatre company is that when it was originally started by Next Generation (pro-life group for young people), our aim was to have a project we could work on with a prayerful attitude," he says.

"And I find through prayer if you're not sure about something, or you think things aren't going well, if you've committed the whole project to prayer then you've got God working on your side ... we still have to put a lot of work into it but if we dedicate it to God, then it will come together."

And Life Theatre now has a reputation to live up to. Its previous productions have sold out, some very rapidly. So, how nervous is Lucy?

"I was really, really nervous to begin with, but then I met some of the people John had chosen," she says.

Still, she'll miss opening night. "I'll go to the last night. I'll make my friends go and get them to ring me," she laughs. "I'll hide in my bedroom and lock the door."

It's all a matter of perspective, she says. "When I was getting really nervous on the train after John told me it was all happening, I was sitting there, packing death, thinking: 'My life is over, I'm going to be humiliated.'

"But there's about five billion people (in the world) who don't really care, so it's not that important. It's actually very comforting."

John is more upbeat. "I thought it was a very exciting idea," he says. "I think the message in the play highlights the message of Christianity."

The Sword of Sorrow, Figtree Theatre, UNSW April 12, 13, 14, 17, 19 and 20. Call 8200 4623.