Seminary Life
Drama Production: Luther
Luther by John Osborne
The students of St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, presented a production of John Osborne’s play Luther in the Aula Maxima on March 31st and April 1st.
The Reformation marked the division of the Church and of Europe. It occurred as the voyages of discovery were opening up the wider world so the divisions were carried to the new world making the Reformation an event of world wide significance.
One man stands as the symbolic originator of the Reformation, Martin Luther, Augustinian friar and professor at the University of Wittenberg in Germany. John Osborne’s play is a dramatic presentation of the personality and circumstances of‘ the monk who stood against all Christendom.’
The play looks critically at the indulgence racket and the morbid reliance on relics which provoked a strong reaction in the sensitive and, according to the play, fragile and volatile character of Luther. His ninety-five theses published in 1517 and his response to his interrogation at the Diet of Worms in 1521 were pivotal moments in his life and in the unfolding events of the Reformation. Relying on Scripture and the supremacy of conscience he single handedly opposed the might of Church and Empire and declared at the Diet of Worms. He refuses to recant and his reason is summed up in the words: ‘ to act against one’s conscience is neither safe nor honest, here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God!’
Luther’s stand against authority awakened the sleeping fury of the peasants against their masters and they revolted against the princes who in turn put down their revolt with great savagery. Luther had advised the princes to restore order and so the peasants saw him as betraying their cause and taking the side of their oppressors, ‘ beating the drum for the princes’.
The play sees the strengths and weaknesses of Luther and leaves the audience to judge. The play also shows the church’s need for reform by way of showing the impoverished spiritual life of the people depending on indulgences and relics. It shows also the less than favourable, even haughty and hostile, response on the part of church authority to a call for reform. At the same time it highlights the tragedy of words and actions that divided and weakened the church and left us the divisions that are with us to this day.
The play is produced by the students of St Patrick’s College. It follows on the very successful production of Brian Friel’s ‘The Enemy Within which the students staged in 2008.
The production team is headed by Martin Whelan with Eugene O’Boyle as stage manager. The lead role is taken by William Woods who has appeared in last year’s production and in several NUIM Drama Society productions. The director of the play is Fr Michael Mullins who has been involved in drama since his student days.
