COUDERSPORT — A production of the play “The Passion of Christ,” a representation of the last three days of the life of Jesus, will be performed at the Coudersport Consistory today.
This year marks the 54th year the play has been presented, and is an opportunity to kick off the Easter Season and a way to support the Masonic mission, according to Scott Parisiella, a member of the Coudersport Consistory and the Masonic Order.
Parisiella hails from Bradford, but grew up just two blocks from the Consistory. He began performing in the choir for the Passion Play when he was in high school, and has remained involved for the past 46 years.
The play is presented through seven scenes, accompanied by the Passion Play Choir, with choral and organ pieces between scenes. Performers travel from across north central Pennsylvania to participate in this annual event, which depicts events beginning with the Last Supper and ending at the Resurrection.
The Consistory itself is a massive, awe-inspiring structure, built around the Victorian-style home of the Benson Family which was constructed in 1887.
The most surprising feature within the mammoth, brick complex is the auditorium which includes seating for 1,200 people and a pulley system that raises and lowers 30 scenery panels and a dozen curtains that can be changed for different shows.
The stage area features a professional, computer-operated lighting system that is a blend of traditional and modern, and an adjoining dressing room is packed full of costumes and props for a wide variety of performances.
A grandiose cathedral is also contained within, measuring 62-by-134-feet in the Tudor-Gothic style; with massive columns rising to the peaked ceiling that has been the backdrop for weddings and other ceremonies throughout the last century.
In addition, the complex boasts an industrial kitchen and a huge dining area, capable of seating 600 people comfortably. Facilities have often been used for community performances and special events in addition to Masonic gatherings.
Today’s presentation will begin at 3 p.m. at the Consistory located on East Second Street in the Borough of Coudersport, and tickets can be purchased for $3 each, and a Roast Beef Dinner will be offered for a cost of $9. Residents of the Bradford area can opt to ride a shuttle bus designated for the play, which will leave at noon from the Bradford Presbyterian Church parking lot. The cost of the trip is $35 and includes a ticket to the performance, a meal and a brief tour of the Consistory.
