For the Reckord | 'The Blood Prevails' - drama with a religious message

One theory holds that drama had its beginning in religious ritual, with one branch - entertainment drama - eventually becoming the largest. That would mean that theatre and religion have been linked for thousands of years. Certainly, they have been linked for centuries - scripts of miracle and morality plays of medieval times are extant.

So, the launch of the Theatre Art Ministries by the ladies' arm of Blessing and Deliverance Ministries over the weekend is nothing new - but is the most recent to be formed in Jamaica. The launch was marked with the 'gospel play' - The Blood Prevails, written and directed by Carolyn Beckford and staged at Jamaica College's Karl Hendrickson Auditorium.

The message of the play, Beckford told me, was that "life will throw a lot of adversity your way, leaving you broken. But the blood of Jesus is always a powerful healing force". She added that the Theatre Arts Ministry aims to "bring young people who are hesitant about going to traditional churches to the awareness that God loves them. It uses music, dance and drama - which are natural to them - to communicate God's love".

Those art forms are also used by the counselling arm of the ministry in its therapeutic sessions for those who have suffered some trauma - physical or emotional abuse - or who need more than what Beckford calls "talk therapy".

Underscoring the didactic nature of the play, the cast comes on stage before the play itself begins and sings a soothing gospel song. The play is located in a tenement yard, which is suggested by a minimalist set comprising a staggered wall across the stage with doors leading to various homes, a bench belonging to Miss P, and a standpipe.

Leading opposites

The leading residents are opposites - a young 'bad man', Trevor (O'Niel Dacres), and a good middle-age woman, Miss P, or 'Precious', played by Bobbett Hinson. The other characters, who are aligned to the main ones, include Trevor's girlfriend, Jennifer (Shantau Brown); his sidekick, Patrick (O'Jae Adlam); and Miss P's young tenant, Richard (Howard Martin).

Unseen to these characters are figures in red, representing devils, and white, representing angels. These spirits, if they could be called that, are constantly on stage, usually hovering around the human characters and encouraging them to do good or evil.

The playwright indicates that the spirits have a powerful influence over the decisions of the humans, but, arguably, that is at odds with a statement made in a conversation at the start of the play between the devil and an angel. There, we hear that God gave man freedom of choice. So the question arises: Can the devil actually make man do anything?

Another major issue dealt with in the play is forgiveness. Both Miss P and Trevor find themselves in need of it, and the play makes a statement about "the overwhelming love of [being] God freely given ... for everyone has fallen short...." The play ends with the cast singing, "Come just as you are," demonstrating that they can sing, as well as act.

After the stage lights go down, Beckford tells the audience that anyone needing prayer support can contact the producers. Since it contains dance, drama and music, this production could be called a musical for committed Christians.