“The Play of Adam”, also called “Jeu d’Adam” in French and “Ordo representacionis” in Latin, is a 12th century non-liturgical drama, that is written in an Anglo-Norman French vernacular. It can be divided into three different parts: the first part deals with the creation of Adam and Eve and the Fall of Man, the second part tells the story of Cain and Abel and the last part is a presentation of the Old Testament’s prophets. This essay’s focus will be set on the first part of the play and how the architectural characteristics of Canterbury Cathedral can be used to arrange it. An important aspect regarding the performing space is, that the Play of Adam is the first play that is supposed to be performed outside, which means in front of the church.
…show more content…
Steven Justice states in his article “The Authority of Ritual in the Play of Adam”: “An almost universal scholarly consensus puts the Adam 's performance outside the church, before the doors.” Regarding Canterbury Cathedral one might assume that the most suitable place for the play might be in front of the front door at the eastern …show more content…
There is also a shorter passage with at the archive building on the eastern side. A water tower is arranged on the southern side. This side is considerable darker than the other ones, which makes hell more frightening for the audience. Since the stage directions propose that the gate to hell should be a part of the scene, the water tower with its various entries can function as this gate and the arcade behind it as the actual hell. The Devil can leave and enter hell at this point. The demons are supposed to run around the lower garden and they are also in Hell talking with the Devil. The passage on the eastern side, however, is brighter and situated above the lower garden. In addition, it is set on the on the east side of the garden, which makes it an even more convenient place for heaven. Three steps connect the passage with the lower garden. Even before the Fall of Man at the very beginning of the play, it is said that Eve is standing lower down than Adam in front of the Figure at the very beginning of the play: ‘Adam tamen propius vultu composito, Eva vero parum demissiori’ . These three steps illustrate the hierarchy of the three different characters: The Figure stands on the top, Adam one step lower down, but still one step above his wife. The Figure can leave and enter Paradise through the passage and go towards the Cathedral, when he quits the
Steven Justice states in his article “The Authority of Ritual in the Play of Adam”: “An almost universal scholarly consensus puts the Adam 's performance outside the church, before the doors.” Regarding Canterbury Cathedral one might assume that the most suitable place for the play might be in front of the front door at the eastern …show more content…
There is also a shorter passage with at the archive building on the eastern side. A water tower is arranged on the southern side. This side is considerable darker than the other ones, which makes hell more frightening for the audience. Since the stage directions propose that the gate to hell should be a part of the scene, the water tower with its various entries can function as this gate and the arcade behind it as the actual hell. The Devil can leave and enter hell at this point. The demons are supposed to run around the lower garden and they are also in Hell talking with the Devil. The passage on the eastern side, however, is brighter and situated above the lower garden. In addition, it is set on the on the east side of the garden, which makes it an even more convenient place for heaven. Three steps connect the passage with the lower garden. Even before the Fall of Man at the very beginning of the play, it is said that Eve is standing lower down than Adam in front of the Figure at the very beginning of the play: ‘Adam tamen propius vultu composito, Eva vero parum demissiori’ . These three steps illustrate the hierarchy of the three different characters: The Figure stands on the top, Adam one step lower down, but still one step above his wife. The Figure can leave and enter Paradise through the passage and go towards the Cathedral, when he quits the