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"The Wednesday Play" Son of Man (1969)
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Overview
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TV Series:
"The Wednesday Play" (1964)Original Air Date:
16 April 1969 (Season 1, Episode 143)Plot:
Dennis Potter's controversial reading of the life of Christ, with Jesus portrayed as a hearty, fiery... more | add synopsisPlot Keywords:
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a special re-telling of the story of Christ more (3 total)Cast
(Episode Cast overview, first billed only) | Colin Blakely | ... | Jesus Christ |
| Robert Hardy | ... | Pontius Pilate |
| Brian Blessed | ... | Peter |
| Edward Hardwicke | ... | Judas Iscariot |
| Godfrey Quigley | ... | Roman Commander |
| Patricia Lawrence | ... | Procla |
| Gawn Grainger | ... | Andrew |
| Wendy Allnutt | ... | Ruth |
| Clive Graham | ... | Roman Centurion |
| Brian Spink | ... | Zealot |
| Robin Chadwick | ... | Young Officer |
| Godfrey James | ... | First Soldier |
| Eric Mason | ... | Second Soldier |
| Hugh Futcher | ... | First Heckler |
| Raymond Witch | ... | Second Heckler |
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Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
90 minCountry:
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EnglishFun Stuff
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Dennis Potter's play 'Son of Man', first written for television and later performed on the stage, sees Jesus Christ first and foremost as a man, who has self-doubts, fears, and feelings like anyone else.
Colin Blakely was an inspired choice for the role, wild and unkempt following his days and nights in the wilderness when he comes across two fishermen, Peter and Andrew, and selects his first disciples.
Casting throughout this 90 minute play is extremely effective - Robert Hardy as Pilate, Edward Hardwicke as Judas, Brian Blessed as Peter, Bernard Hepton as Caiaphas, and so on. The sermons of Jesus are not high and remote from the people, but down at their level - a contrast to the declaiming of John the Baptist at the start of the play.
Low-budget values could have hampered this play, but the script and subject matter allow it to captivate from the start. In presenting the Messiah as more human than some versions of the story, it allows questions to be asked, and in turn, allows some of the other characters to express doubts about their perception of the Saviour amongst them.
The ending is exceptionally bleak though, and in some ways without hope. No resurrection is signposted or hinted at in 'Son of Man', and the story is more powerful for it.