“Two From Galilee' opens
Three months in the making, the stage is set for the Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday Christmas season musical production of "Two From Galilee" at First Baptist Church in Du Quoin.
The Dec. 10-13 performances are at 7 p.m. nightly in the Family Life Center at the church.
It's a stunning two-act production under the direction of Alice and Gordon Swetland who have been working long hours alongside Donette Wheatley to create the sound and lighting required to set the mood of the production.
Cast memjbers include Mary (Amber Lewis), Hannah (Mara Rice), Joachi (Jim Endsley), Joseph (Matt Schaub), Timna (Jackie Gomes), Jacob (Jesse Games), Deborah (Patty Hilliard), Ruth (Angela Smith), Leah (Becky Stokes), Reb Levi (Bob Cook), Cleophus (Payton Hilliard), Micah (DAve Hock), Abner (Mason Hilliard), Omar (Rudy Rice), Omar's Son, (Bill Koonce), Gabriel (Tim Hirsch), Rabbi (Cliff Harrell), Balthazar (Monte Kuhnert), Melchior (Paul Lilly), Kaspar (Howard Wilson), Roman soldier (Andrew Darnell), inn keeper (Gary Stanhouse), inn keeper's wife ((Lee Ellen Stanhouse), and the angels and townspeople including Janet Bea n, Debbie DeMent, Randy DeMent, Abby Luthy and Andrea Luthy.
Act I includes the overture, Today in Galilee, Twenty-One & Past, What Are You Waiting For, Good Morning Joseph, All I Ever Wanted, Suitors, Match Made in Heaven, Argument, Going Through the Motions, The Lord Bless You, Mary's Prayer and All I Ever Wanted.
Act II includes Another Journey, Joseph's Prayer and the Angel's Announcement, Say a Prayer, Jorey to Bethlehem, Gloria in Excelsis Deo and the Finale.
"Two From Galilee" is the first novel in a trilogy by Marjorie Holmes based on the life of Jesus Christ. The book was published in 1972. It begins with the discovery that teenager Mary has become a woman, ready to be betrothed. Wealthy and handsome Cleophas and rabbi's son Abner are both in love with Mary but she loves only Joseph, the son of a carpenter. Despite their age difference and the objections of Mary's mother, Hannah, the love between Mary and Joseph prevails, and they are betrothed.
Soon after the ceremony, Mary is visited by an angel, who tells her that she will become the mother of the Messiah, whom she shall name Jesus. Mary is then faced with the responsibility of impending motherhood as well as proving to Joseph that she has not betrayed him.
Meanwhile, Mary's aunt Elizabeth is also pregnant (with John the Baptist). After telling her parents and Joseph the truth, Mary's family arranges for her to come to Jerusalem to stay with Zechariah and Elizabeth temporarily. Joseph remains behind in Galilee, tormented by jealousy, until an angel visits him. Joseph's father Jacob dies and, afterwards, Joseph goes to Mary as the angel instructed. After they are married, Joseph takes Mary with him to Bethlehem, where taxes must be paid. Unable to find other accommodations, they stay in a stable, where Mary gives birth to Jesus. They are visited by wise men who bring gifts to the newborn Messiah. The wise men originally came on behalf of King Herod, who has ordered the execution of all male babies in Jerusalem to prevent the Messiah from coming to power. The wise men are warned to flee from Herod and Joseph is warned to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus. The book ends with them on the journey to Egypt.