The Capmakers’ Play: The Woman Taken in Adultery / The Raising of Lazarus is one of many plays from the York Gild. This gild produced plays in a cycle known as the York Cycle. The York Cycle consisted of pageants – called such since the term described individual episodes – each episode was based on biblical history of God’s relationship with humanity, beginning with the Creation and ending with the last judgment.  The play The Capmakers’ Play: The Woman Taken in Adultery / The Raising of Lazarus is the 24^th play in the cycle, yet a pivotal one. The play shows Jesus’ power of mercy and resurrection. Within the play we are shown that a person who has faith is given forgiveness and that a deep faith can bring out God’s mercy by way of resurrection. These two things help lead us into the later plays that deal with Jesus’ death upon the cross and his own resurrection. 

Rogerson, Margaret. Playing a part in history: the York mysteries. Toronto, Buffalo, London: University of Toronto Press Inc, 2009. Print.


http://books.google.com/books?id=S-f4b4SWbDwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Playing+a+part+in+history:+the+York+mysteries,+1951-2006+by+Margaret+Rogerson&source=bl&ots=cCZDsqmE91&sig=aq1-piIMhHMiY6GO6C5MPrC9h5c&hl=en&ei=Mcr1TK2AJpCWsgP1vZnlCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

The picture shown is the new poster for our play The Woman Taken in Adultery.  We know that this photo will show everyone the depth of drama involved in our play. The actors shown are in full costume – authentic to the era – and were photographed using our own scenery. As you can see the lighting is excellently placed, the actors supreme, the costumes delightful, and the theme timeless.  Even now our actors are tirelessly rehearsing to bring you to best theater experience possible. I know you will enjoy our version of this historical play. Come join us soon!

Here is the picture bigger.

http://catholic-resources.org/Dore/John08.jpg


Doré, Gustave. "The Gospel according to John." The Doré Bible Gallery. N.p., 2009. Web. 30 Nov 2010. <http://catholic-resources.org/Art/Dore-John.htm>.

The picture shown is from John 11:1-44 and is of The Raising of Lazarus. The picture shows Jesus with 3 apostles and one of Lazarus’s sisters. The picture is lighted to show the drama of the event. The emotion portrayed on the individual faces truly expresses the amazement and faith of Jesus’ followers. We are posting this picture in all of our dressing rooms in the hopes that it will bring inspiration to all of our actors.

Here is the Photo Bigger!  

http://catholic-resources.org/Dore/John11.jpg

Doré, Gustave. "The Gospel according to John." The Doré Bible Gallery. N.p., 2009. Web. 30 Nov 2010. <http://catholic-resources.org/Art/Dore-John.htm>.

We now have the pageant car route available for those interested. The pageant cars will travel down Main Street on December 7^th. The first stop will be at the physics building at 11:00 A.M. The car will then travel to the English building stopping at 11:45. After the performance the car will travel to Stevenson dorm stopping at 12:30, to the Western dorm at 1:30, French dorm at 2:15 and then finally around to the Math building at 3:00. We have decided to use a horse drawn wagon to do the performance upon. The driver will be ringing an “old time” bell and yelling announcements as he drives. Please join us for a trip back into history and some good time fun.

"Wagons Roll for Mystery play." Schatzonline. Web. 30 Nov 2010. <http://www.schatzonline.com/Background/Middle%20Ages%20-%20Pageant%20wagons.htm>.

The University Theater is putting on a play from the York Gild. This got me to wondering why the gilds were so popular during medieval times. The Middle Ages were based on a Feudalism system that allowed lords and owners of land to tax town people and their trades to excess. The original gilds were formed to protect worker (gild members) and protect consumers. This would make it very understandable that gilds were formed. The gild could be compared to the original set up of our government, of the people for the people. It would also explain how the gilds became so popular so fast.

"Guilds in the Middle Ages." The Middle Ages Website . N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov 2010. <http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/guilds-in-the-middle-ages.htm>.

The English pageant cars were a tradition long upheld in ancient times. An English pageant car was a mansion on wheels that moved though the principal street of a city and brought to a halt at predetermined stations where a scene of the play cycle is performed. We have decided to resurrect this wonderful tradition around campus. We have decided that the main streets of campus will be used to promote our new play – The Capmakers’ Play: The Woman Take in Adultery / The Raising of Lazarus. Each stop of the pageant car will last for approximately 15 and we will alternate 3 scenes from the play. The full cast will be involved in with this project and full costumes will be employed. The pageant cars are well worth seeing, so come join us. We will list the full pageant route and stops as soon as we have the full details. 


Nagler, A.M. "English Pageant Cars." A Source Book in Theatrical History. New York: Dover Publications, Inc, 1952. Print.