BRINGING MOMENT TO LIFE RE-CREATING DA VINCI'S 'THE LAST SUPPER'.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

CANYON COUNTRY - A moment immortalized 500 years ago on a wall in Milan will come to life Friday when ``The Living Last Supper'' is presented at Church of the Canyons.

The Rev. Bob Childress remembered a play he used to put on as a camp director in which he would give each counselor the role of an apostle to re-enact the 1498 Leonardo da Vinci fresco.

Childress said that several churches around the world do their own versions of the production. Their congregation's first attempt at this project was last year; the positive reception of that show encouraged Childress and director Krystal Solomon to do it again.

``We were able to bring the gifts, talents and abilities of folks from the church to this,'' Childress said. ``It brought a sense of the drama and excitement of that last night, when Jesus was betrayed and his disciples were still uncertain of his position.

``Our whole idea is to be a beacon, a lighthouse with our outreach. A lot of people won't come to a normal church service, so this is a chance for them to hear what Jesus Christ had to say.''

Childress said Solomon did the most work on the show, despite the impending birth of her first child, Zachary, who arrived April 1, two weeks earlier than expected.

``My main task was getting actors ready,'' Solomon said. ``We started rehearsals six to eight weeks ago. A good number of them hadn't done anything like this before, so we worked with them.''

Solomon said the dinner was designed to resemble a Passover dinner without being strict, while introducing the flavors and textures of Middle Eastern cuisine.

``We didn't want an Easter meal, but last year we went a bit too far with the Middle Eastern and a lot of the food didn't get eaten,'' she explained.

Solomon said that more than 100 members of the congregation are working on the show, sewing costumes, making dessert, building the set, serving the dinner or supplying the food, as well as acting or working in technical roles.

``Da Vinci painted the moment right after Jesus shared the prophecy of betrayal,'' Solomon said. ``We hear the inner thoughts of each disciple wondering who it could be in the moment of realization that this person they have been following is going to die. They revisit how they met him and wonder who it could be that will betray him; and knowing that Jesus knows them better than they know themselves, they wonder if it will be them in a moment of human weakness.

``This could easily be something people go to for entertainment, but come away with a chance to understand what Easter is about,'' she concluded.

``The Living Last Supper'' will presented five times; dinner shows Friday and Saturday are sold out. Free performances of the 45-minute show alone will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 8:45 and 11 a.m. Sunday. The Church of the Canyons is at 28050 Sand Canyon Road, Canyon Country. For information, call [phone].

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Actors playing Jesus and his disciples create a living scene of da Vinci's ``The Last Supper'' for Church of the Canyons this weekend.

(2 -- color) Actors playing Christ's disciples check their positions in a living scene of da Vinci's ``The Last Supper'' being presented by Church of the Canyons for the second year.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer