THE

MYSTERIES
Helpful Information

Rarely in the world of theatre does a company appear to such instant and universal acclaim. THE MYSTERIES is
a spectacular African version of the English Medieval Chester Mystery Plays. These timeless Biblical stories are
brought to life through exhilarating songs, dance, and heart-breaking drama. It is both passionate and
uplifting. An altogether stunning piece of theatre that breathes life into some of the greatest stories told.

The first half focuses on a much worshipped, multi-
lingual Deus, the talented Vumile Nomanyama. He
leads us through a battle with Lucifer and then the
biblical stories of Adam and Eve, painted in pastel
shades, a White Cain and Black Abel, Abraham and
the sacrifice of Isaac, but most impressively, Noah.
The Ark may be no more than a flimsy piece of
garden fence but the battle between the larger-
than-life, Otto Ziqubu as Noah and Ruby Mthethwa
as his wife is splendidly acted and extremely funny.
The second half takes us through the story of Jesus,
also played by Vumile Nomanyama, from
immaculate conception through his life, stopping
off at such stories as the raising of Lazarus, his
meeting with Mary Magdalene, the Last Supper,
and, most movingly, the Crucifixion and
Resurrection.
This is very entertaining theatre, well filmed, and
shows a familiar story related in an alien and
extremely different cultural tradition. This is a far
cry from Chester, although the underlying spirit of
people's theatre is similar.


HERE IS A GUIDE TO WHAT YOU ARE SEEING. THE QUESTIONS ON THE QUIZ WILL COVER MORE THAN THIS, SO YES, YOU
WILL STILL HAVE TO WATCH. THE SINGING IS SPECTACULAR!!

ACT ONE (OLD TESTAMENT of the Bible)
God introduces himself
Angels sing to glory to God
God is presented on high
God addresses his angels, and Lucifer is made first among the angels
Lucifer decides he is equal to God, even brighter.
God returns to see Lucifer on his throne and throws Lucifer out of heaven
God reasserts his leadership to the angels
God (with dancing angels) creates all the elements, then man (Adam)
Lucifer appears from below and wails about his fate
God gives Adam the world, all but the One Tree
God and angels circle and create woman (Eve)
Lucifer sees Adam and Eve and seeks revenge by disguising himself as a snake and tempting Eve to eat from the
forbidden One Tree, which she shares with Adam
Rain falls as Adam and Eve suddenly see themselves as naked
God returns and questions their actions, deciding that they cannot return to their previous, eternal, child-like
state
Adam introduces his two sons, Cain and Abel
The sons present gifts to God; one with a boastful heart, whose gift is rejected; one with an honest heart, whose
gift is accepted
Lucifer fans the anger of the elder, proud brother, who kills his honest brother
He is outcast
God speaks to Noah, telling him that he will destroy the world and start over; only Noah will be spared
Noah bargains to include his wife, his sons and their wives
He is charged by God to build an ark (a really big boat) to save his family and animals of the world from the
world-destroying flood
Noahs wife is very argumentative as the animals are loaded and refuses to believe
She finally boards the ark
40 days of rain pass
Noah releases a dove to see if there is land, and the dove returns with a twig, signaling an end to the flood
Everyone is happy! Including God!
God charges Noah to repopulate the earth
Lucifer is present as the peoples of the earth see each other as different and become war-like
The victorious leader Abraham offers to God anything he wants
God requests the sacrifice of his young son Isaac
God stops him at the last moment, declaring his willingness is enough and blesses him
God charges all tribes to be fruitful and in harmony

ACT TWO (New Testament of the Bible)
Mary sees God and is given his child, though she remains a virgin
Mary sings with her friend
Joseph is first upset, then marries Mary
They travel to Bethlehem and Mary gives birth to the son of God
Many come to offer their best wishes, a dance-off represents their offerings of joy
Among those bringing gifts are three men with gifts of great value
The men tell the king of the city that they are bringing gifts to the greatest of all, born to rule the world

This upsets the leader, and he sends his forces out into the land and they kill all the male babies, including the
kings own son, but not Marys child
Lucifer happily takes the king to hell
The women are comforted by Mary
Jesus is grown, and dances with his mother Mary
Mary gives him a flute, which Jesus plays
Lucifer appears with his followers and tries to overpower him with their music
Jesus flute wins!
Jesus brings his friends (apostles) together by teaching them his dance
Lucifer appears as a man, reproaching a woman (also named Mary) for being a prostitute
Jesus friends tells Jesus he must shun her, too
He refuses, asking who in the crowd can claim to be without sin
Lucifer leaves unfulfilled
The woman asks to be one of his followers, and the apostles begin to argue
Jesus tells his friends to stop bickering, that his friend Lazarus is dead
At his funeral, Jesus tells Lazarus sister that he will live, but she doubts
Jesus entreats God for the power to bring Lazarus back from the dead
Lucifer appears and has a fit
Lazarus rises in full health
There is much rejoicing!
Mary the prostitute washes Jesus feet with oil
Jesus apostle Judas is angered by this, seeing it as insulting to Jesus
Jesus tells him it is not, and Mary is lifted in spirit
Judas is very upset, and decides Jesus is not worthy and will report him to the authorities
Jesus and his followers celebrate their arrival in Jerusalem
Jesus speaks to his followers before a temple
Lucifer urges the people in the temple to overpower the followers
Jesus beats him down
Judas is again angry about this risky behavior and vows it must stop
Jesus and his followers meet to eat together and Jesus claims that one will betray him
Judas claims it will be him, and runs away
Jesus tells his friends that what happens next was meant to be, and he bathes their feet and tells them that even
though he will be leaving them, they must go on
Jesus goes into a garden and speaks to God, telling him that he wishes he didnt have to die
Lucifer oversees the moment when Judas leads the kings forces to capture Jesus, even though Judas asks Jesus
to run away
The people of the city do not defend Jesus when the kings rulers judge him
The apostles are fearful when the rulers turn to them, and Lucifer crows like a chicken
The military leader of the city (Pilate) asks Jesus if he claims to be the king of the Jews, and after speaking with
Jesus, he tells the people that he wants to let Jesus go
Encouraged by the rulers, the people of Jerusalem scream for his death
Pilate claims that Jesus death is on their heads, and not his fault
Jesus is crucified on a cross, after being forced to carry the instrument of his death through the streets of the
city
The women weep and angels speak to them, urging them to stop their weeping
Jesus rises from death and speaks to the women and his apostles telling them to have faith
Jesus comforts his mother
His apostles gather and reaffirm their commitment to Jesus teachings, depicted by dance and song
God appears and sings in celebration joined by the entire cast
NOTE: THERE IS SOME MORE AFTER THE FINAL CURTAIN CALL, YOU DONT HAVE TO WATCH THIS, BUT IT IS GREAT