Everyone knows the story of Mary and Joseph in the stable, welcoming the birth of Jesus. But what of the shepherds Huckle, Muckle and Gallus, who followed the star to see the child?
This weekend, Plowshare Farm plans to present an abridged version of Oberufer’s “The Shepherds’ Play,” a version of the Nativity story that dates back to the medieval period.
Medieval “mystery” plays, as they’re known, typically tell Bible stories, such as the creation of Adam and Eve or the Last Judgement. Oberufer does not refer to the play’s author – who is unknown – but to the Austrian village of Obrufer where “The Shepherds’ Play,” along with two other medieval Christmas plays, were performed annually. Villagers relied on their oral memory to preserve them until all three were recorded by Karl Julius Schröer, who was living in Pressburg in the 1850s, and saw the plays performed.
The story begins with the well-known portion of the story – Joseph and Mary return to Bethlehem to pay their taxes, are turned away from the inns and settle into a stable where Mary gives birth to Jesus.
But from there, the play switches perspectives, focusing not on the stable scene, but on three boisterous shepherds who are called to follow the star to Bethlehem and pay homage to the baby Jesus.
Each scene is followed by an interlude of a carol, which introduces the narrative of the next part of the play, blending story and music to tell the tale.
“It’s fun, it’s energetic and it’s funny. [The shepherds] are very rowdy and funny, until they go to Jesus, and then they’re more reverent. I like that about the play,” said Nina Sharff, who plays the shepherd Huckle, and has for several years.
“I think it’s a nice balance of humor and that deep reverence,” said Eric Buteyn, who is part of the chorus and a bell-ringer in the play. “And it’s nice to be part of what has become this great tradition.”
The play has been part of the Plowshare Farm community’s holiday observances for 16 years, and has become a community favorite. Buteyn said it’s not uncommon to perform the play to a full house.
“That’s another part that I like about it,” Sharff said. “It’s nice to see the outside community come in and see them get involved.”
Plowshare Farm is a lifesharing community in Greenfield, where people with varying levels of developmental disabilities live and work together. For this play they are being joined by two other local lifesharing communities, Four Winds Community of Wilton and Tobias Community of Temple.
Some of the parts are played by members of the community with developmental disabilities, and some by the non-developmentally disabled community members who live with them. Sometimes, a role is played by a member of the community, and the lines are read for them, depending on their level of ability to speak or memorize lines. That blend is part of what sets this telling of the Nativity apart, said Sasha Daler, who will be playing Joseph.
“It’s from Plowshare Farm,” he said. “It’s nice that everyone can come out and celebrate the season, especially people who have never experienced it before.”
“It’s unique,” Daler’s mother, Jennifer Bernet said. “It’s done by people in various lifesharing communities from around the region, and it brings a real tenderness and joy to the play.”
Daler has been involved with “The Shepherds’ Play” for six years, and in most of those, has played the part of Joseph, which he’ll be reprising again this year. It’s tradition in mystery plays for the parts to be played by the same actor year to year, he said.
Plowshare Farm’s 16th Annual Shepherds’ Play will be performed on Monday, Dec. 17, and Thursday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m. at the Union Congregational Church, located at 33 Concord Street in Peterborough. This is a free event. For more information, call 547-2547.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.