Annual Play: Murder in the Cathedral

Seminarians of the Pontifical North American College participate in a variety of extracurricular activities. On March 21-22, after weeks of preparation, a group of seminarians performed T.S. Eliot’s famous play, Murder in the Cathedral.

Directed by Joseph Farrell of the Diocese of Arlington, the play follows the internal and external struggle of St. Thomas Becket in the time leading up to his martyrdom. The style draws heavily from the ancient Greek theatrical style, with long monologues and recitation of certain parts in chorus. 

Thomas, Archbishop Canterbury, was played by Conor Steadman of the Archdiocese of Perth. Other seminarians played the roles of priests, temptors, and knights, as well as a chorus of peasants.

This was Farrell’s second time in the director’s chair since he arrived at the College, the first being last year’s performance of A Separate Peace by John Knowles.

In his closing remarks, Farrell praised the entire cast and crew–about one fifth of the seminary community–for the hours of work in preparation for the show.