Highlights of the York Mystery Plays 1999
Distributed by Films for the Humanities and Sciences, P.O. Box 2053, Princeton, N.J. 08543-2053; 800-257-5126
Produced by British Television
Directed by Jane Oakshott
VHS, color, 57 min.
High School - Adult
Theater
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Brad Eden, Ph.D., Head, Web and Digitization Services, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las VegasThis video documents and records the first production of the York Mystery plays since 1569. Presented in 1998 as authentically as possible by the city of York, the Corpus Christi cycle was originally a group of 48 plays illustrating scenes from the Bible once a year at the Feast of Corpus Christi. York guilds would be assigned to put together a wagon with actors portraying a scene from the Bible, and would present their play as part of a grand production offered around the city of York. For the 1998 re-creation of this event, a total of five stations and eleven plays were enacted. Authentic Renaissance instruments and surviving music accompanied the re-creation. The eleven plays presented were: Creation to the 5th Day, Creation of Adam and Eve, Fall of Adam and Eve, The Flight into Egypt, The Temptation, The Agony in the Garden and the Betrayal of Christ, The Death of Christ, The Harrowing of Hell, The Incredulity of Thomas, The Ascension of Jesus Christ, and the Last Judgment.
This film is highly recommended for use in undergraduate and graduate classes in medieval history, culture, and liturgy; sociology; religion; and theatre. Some more advanced high school classes in religion and theatre may find this video of interest as well.