After months of grueling rehearsals, the drama ministry of City Harvest Church (CHC) staged a revolutionary Easter drama production entitled ‘The Final Solution’. “What if Science discovered a genetic cure for the moral defects of mankind?” — the voiceover of the drama trailer served as a teaser for CHC members and friends alike who flocked to the various church services held in different venues, to watch the highly anticipated drama.
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The first scene opened with an intriguing prison setting where a fight broke out between hardcore prisoners Maximus Brutto and Titus Pullo. The fight ended when the Chief of Police intervened and introduced the top physician of Jerusalem, Dr. Silas, to the prisoners. Silas then summoned a notorious serial killer causing the rest of the prisoners to shrink back in fear. But there was something different in ‘Chen Bao’, he has become a peaceful person after receiving an injection shot of a blue fluid, the contents of the Final Solution.
The Final Solution was a potion created by Silas to remove from the human heart any desire to commit sin. Silas had created this potion as a result of his own heartbreak when his wife, Miriam, died in cold blooded murder. Silas now had a proposal for the prisoners: receive freedom like Chen Bao (after receiving a jab of the Final Solution) or death penalty for their crimes. Upon seeing an opportunity to escape the gallows, all the prisoners jumped at the idea of a ticket to freedom.
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Dr. Luke, a disciple of Jesus of Nazareth, who was also Silas’s ex-classmate and best friend, noted the similarities between Jesus and Silas, in that they both want to see salvation in mankind. As a result, he introduced the two men to each other.
At the other end of the city, Carmen, Silas’s daughter, was having the time of her life partying. She quickly became the object of every boy’s attention. However, it was soon discovered that she had no interest in any of the guys, as she was attracted to another girl! Carmen and her girlfriend were caught in the act by Silas, who lost his temper and struck Carmen. With the blow, Carmen fainted and Silas, seeing no other option, injects her with the Final Solution, in a bid to make his own child obedient.
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Silas’ relationship with his business partner Dinah turned sour after he spurned her affections. The spiteful Dinah plotted to deliver one last prisoner to Silas to receive an injection of the Final Solution. To Silas’ horror, the prisoner was none other than the murderer who killed Miriam! Silas, in a moment of folly, lost himself to anger and stabbed the prisoner, killing him in one blow.
At that moment, Luke came to visit Silas and found out that Silas had committed murder. Carmen was also starting to feel the ill-effects of the potion and just as the police came to arrest Silas, she collapsed. After being locked up and beaten to the pulp by the prison guards, Silas stretched out his hands to Jesus, who was also locked up in the same cell by the Chief of Police (in cahoots with the Pharisees). The healing power flowed out of Jesus and into Silas’ body. Silas was overcome by the love and forgiveness of Jesus.
At the trials, as it was customary to release one prisoner during the Passover, Pontius Pilate wanted to release Jesus as he could not find any fault in Him. His good intentions were overthrown by the Pharisees and the crowd, who chanted loudly for Silas Barrabas to be released instead. Fearing a riot, Pontius Pilate released Silas, whom he called a mass murderer (all the recipients of his potion were either dead or in critical condition).
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| PHOTOS: Albert Soh, Daniel Poh, Gay Sen Min, Gary Sim |
As Jesus carried the Cross on the road to Calvary to be crucified, the crowd (and the audience) could only watch helplessly as the lashes from the Roman soldiers cut deep into the back of Jesus. Taunted, cursed at, Jesus wore the crown of thorns before He was eventually nailed to the cross and awaited death, taking the place of guilt-stricken Silas.
Three days later, a heartbroken Silas tried to revive Carmen who had been lying dead for 2 days when Luke tried in vain to comfort him. Just when things seemed hopeless, Jesus appeared to both Luke and Silas. “Arise!” At the word of Jesus, Carmen awoke from death and Silas was reunited with his daughter, bringing an end to this brilliant Easter story.
“This year, the focus was many aspects of real life as we see it today. From status quo, to homosexuality and science; not forgetting the endless issues of love and forgiveness. At the end of the day, no matter what solution man can come up with, the real solution is still Jesus Christ!” says Alan Raj, one of the ‘Pharisees’. “As Easter drew nearer, we had to rehearse from 6pm to 2am- 3am! I’m glad that it was all worth it.” He adds.
Lim Hong Bin, member of City Harvest commented, “This year’s drama is awesome because the plot of the drama, not to mention the ‘solid’ acting, makes the experience more real and intense for us viewers. It really gripped my attention, watching it.”
Once again, the CHC drama ministry did not fail to disappoint, delivering the message of the Cross in a totally new and creative perspective.
