"John: His Story" Review

Students put on production of Bible-based play

Blue Mountain College students recently performed the play "John: His Story", a drama that is based on Biblical events from the Book of John.

It is written by Jeannette Clift George. George is best known as the Founder/Artistic Director of the Christian troupe "The A. D. Players". Among her other projects, she is an award-winning actress, playwright, and author.

The performance of George's play took place in Garrett auditorium from February 26-March 3. These included two special preview nights, a matinee for middle schools, and three performances for the general public.

Director Christi Mitchell was excited to be a part of this production. She is a new addition to the department, but she has already used her years of experience to the benefit of the school. She has directed the production Amahl and the Night Visitors, which featured a large percentage of Blue Mountain College's cast and crew. She is also in charge of BMC's new traveling drama team.

The main cast included Simeon Harris, Seth Pierce, Joey Ellis, Mikayla Rayburn, Emily Canoy, and Jessica Clevenger. Many other students also helped in the production, and have the gratitude of both the troupe and the school.

One of the play's goals was to highlight the miracles featured in the Gospel of John. These miracles include: the changing of water into wine at Cana in John 2:1-11, which was the "first of the signs" (NLT); the healing of the royal official's son at Capernaum (John 4:46-54); the healing of the paralytic at Bethesda (John 5:1-15); the feeding of the five thousand (John 6:5-14); Jesus walking on the water (John 6:16-24); and the healing the man blind from birth (John 9:1-7).

Thus, despite its name, the play truly was about Jesus. As one cast member noted, "It is called John, His story, but is it really? The story line of 'John, His Story' is not focused around John himself. It was about the man that it followed; it is focused around the man that Christ claimed to be and was."

The ultimate goal of the production as a whole was to uphold and spread the message of John 20:31: "Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name" (NLT). All involved in this production truly hope they have helped to lead someone to Christ.