A scene from a well-known painting will spring to life and offer some not-so-well-known insights about the 12 men who closely followed Jesus of Nazareth during his earthly ministry.
And those who have thought that Scripture paints the apostles with broad brushstrokes as superhuman might discover a thing or two in the process.
Westside Community Church’s free presentation of “The Living Last Supper,” based on Leonardo da Vinci’s famous art work, will unfold at 7 p.m. Maundy Thursday at the church, 124 Tipton Lakes Blvd. in Columbus. Last year, the performance, attracted about 200 people in a special in-the-round setting. This year, the church is keeping its standard seating format that will make room for 400 people.
In this haunting one-hour drama, each apostle reacts to Jesus’ dinner-time prediction that one will betray him, wondering: “Is it I?”
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“It’s a moving presentation,” said the Rev. Dennis Aud, Westside senior pastor and the drama’s coordinator. “It’s one of the neatest things I’ve been involved in 47 years of ministry.”
The one-hour presentation hinges on the 12 disciples’ brief monologue reflections on Christ and his impact on them. While each character speaks, the figures behind him freeze to match painter da Vinci’s depiction of them in his rendering of “The Last Supper.”
The Rev. Robert Vester, Westside’s associate pastor, portrays Jesus.
“I think it effectively portrays with how each of the apostles wrestled with the idea of whether they were betrayers of Jesus,” Vester said.
When First Lutheran Church members first presented the drama locally in 2016, actors acknowledged during rehearsals that the production meant to change viewers a bit was first changing them — by giving them more than enough food for thought not only about Jesus’ final time with his ministry companions, but plenty else as well.
Perhaps one of the most jolting and powerful lines in the script comes from the character of Judas speaking to the audience: “My soul isn’t as black as some think it is. Nor is yours as white.”
The production intersperses congregational hymns and worship tunes between the soliloquies to make it more than just a show. Plus, holy communion will be a part of the night. The drama was first presented on Palm Sunday 1954 at a Methodist church in Portsmouth, Virginia.
For Westside’s production, church member LuAnn Thomas has made the characters’ robed costumes.
“I see this,” Vester said, “as a different, poignant way to celebrate Maundy Thursday, and those last days before Easter.”
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What: Westside Community Church’s presentation of "The Living Last Supper," a drama highlighting the apostles’ perspective of Jesus and their interactions with him just before his death.
When: 7 p.m. Maundy Thursday.
Where: At the church at 124 Tipton Lakes Blvd. in Columbus.
Information: 812-342-8464 or wccsharejesus.com.
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