Mystery plays star Mary not mother of God but quite the opposite

Mar 20 2008 by Philip Key, Liverpool Daily Post

“I AM the Antichrist!” sang the Sex Pistols in Anarchy in the UK. They weren’t, but Mary Lewery can honestly claim that she is.

Ms Lewery has been cast as the Antichrist in this year’s production of the Chester Mystery Plays, the first time the role has been seen for some years.

“The Coming of the Antichrist is a play that has not been performed for a long while, certainly not since I was first involved in 1987,” she says.

“The play starts with death and destruction, terror and explosions – the end of the world – and the Antichrist enters from the belly of a seven-headed beast.”

It is likely to be a tough time for the actress but she is actually looking forward to it.

“I believe at the end the Antichrist will be dispatched horribly on a revolving crucifix. So I can’t wait to start rehearsing with a mixture of excitement and terror.”

The casting of the Antichrist is just one of a number of roles that have been filled by organisers of the plays, staged only every five years.

Liverpool-born Nick Fry, has this year been cast as Herod.

Playing Jesus will be Sid Mofya, originally from Zambia. “I acted quite a lot when I was a kid,” he says, “ but I haven't done much since apart from playing an astronaut in the science fiction musical Blast Off!”

He will be playing Jesus in the play The Fulfilment. “It’s a very fascinating and chall-enging role and I hope I can bring the character to life.”

Australian James Mathison has been cast as Adam while Sarah Fairchild from Hoole will be playing both Eve and Mary Magdalene.

Director Robert Goddard says he is planning to make all the plays more relevant to today’s audiences, including making the Adam and Eve relationship more passionate than ever before.

This year’s production of the plays will run from June 28-July 19.