A special celebration of the origin of Christmas was held in
Shanghai on Sunday.
The characters, Chinese scientist Xu
Guangqi and the prophet Isaiah, perform with choir members at
Sunday's performance of the 500-year-old "Coventry Nativity Play"
at St Peter's International Catholic Church.
St Peter's Catholic Church on Chongqing Road celebrated the 10th
anniversary of its Christmas carol service by performing the
medieval "Coventry Nativity Play."
The play has survived nearly 500 years from its birthplace in
Coventry in England and tells the story of Christmas.
The text is in Middle English and was sung and spoken in St
Peter's by 120 men, women and children from more than 15 countries
and regions, from Australia to Zambia.
The cast and choirs all featured Shanghai residents, including
lawyers, students, waitresses, business people, office workers,
artists, teachers -- and, of course, a baby.
The baby, a month-old boy, is the youngest member of the parish.
Performers in traditional costume were joined by the St Peter's
International Choir, the Chinese Choir, the Korean Choir and the
Philippine Choir.
The Chinese character Xu Guangqi was specially written into the
play for its Shanghai performance. Xu, a high official of the Ming
Dynasty (1368-1644), is buried at Xujiahui, which bears his family
name.
(Shanghai Daily December 19, 2006)
