What Does It Mean? Mystery No More!

I loved watching this compilation of Mystery Plays performed with such gusto and enthusiasm. While watching the performances and analyzing for elements of tragedy and drama, I was especially impressed with the effect of costuming on the presentation of the stories and audience's reaction. The symbolism behind the color and fabric quality of the costumes underscored the overall themes and enhanced the amateur performances.

Here are a few specific examples of costuming choices that I feel especially added meaning to the amateur performances:
- Adam and Eve's white jumpsuits with coarse ties, which symbolized purity and innocence. Their simple costuming enhanced the performance and their naivety. Eve's hair flowers emphasized her vitality and invoked ideas of her fertility.
- Satan's costuming of a shiny outer coat with an inner green lining obviously showcased his (though the actor was a woman- interesting choice) snake like qualities and suggested that the root of his evil was found in his inner jealousy. The audience is left to wonder: why is he jealous? of whom is he jealous?
- The Lord dressed in gold to emphasize his power and royalty.
- Judas with a simple yellow scarf around his head, symbolizing cowardice and sickliness. Perhaps this was meant to invoke ideas of spiritual sickness or weakness?
- Doubting Thomas' red cloak could be interpreted in many ways. Red can symbolize anger and passion, but in this example, I thought of two symbols: (1) Thomas' weakness because of his mortality and (2) Christ's blood, which atoned for his sins and his doubts.

In an outdoor setting with amateur actors, the costuming really focuses the audience's attention to the true meaning of the stories.