Katharine Reiner - Week 14 - Pentecost

I took this class entirely for fun. Having fulfilled all my GE requirements to graduate over a year ago, I had four extra units that I thought would be fun to actually use, so I signed up for this class. As a theatre major, I didn't think that it would actually be relevant, but would be fascinating and help me grow as a human being.  I was looking through my plays, and I remembered a particular one, entitled Pentecost. It's a play written by David Edgar, a British author, all about the discovery of the 1500's work of art hidden under a layer of stone in a church since the 1500's. The lead characters, one art historian, one archaeolgist, debate on what should happen to the work; if it should be restored to what may have been it's former glory, or left as is, as a mark of history and honored as a relic. I have always enjoyed this play, but never before understood how vital it really was. Especially after seeing the Last Supper with a door between Jesus' legs, it is hard to imagine not leaving masterworks as they are. However, this play really discusses both sides of the argument (until Act II, when Armenian terrorists take the church hostage and the fun really begins!) I really enjoy when arts co-exist in the same world for a few hours; this is a particularly wonderful example. Now, I know that even if I have nothing else of use from this class (which would be entirely untrue, I've learned a great deal!) I can certainly direct this play with more understanding than I could have before.