Pontius Pilate is supported by his wife, Claudia, with her servant, and his servants. He has the tough job of keeping peace in Judea, despite the belligerence of the population and their troublemaking priests and officials. He has already had to put down a number of uprisings and has been warned by Caesar to not have any more trouble. Into this uneasy calm steps Jesus and all that forebodes.
The servants job is to bring Pontius Pilate his water and jug when he decides to wash his hands of the whole affair, and lead the procession to the Crucifixion.
Claudia has an important role warning Pontius to have nothing to do with Jesus. She pleads with him not to convict an innocent man or he will be remembered for generations afterwards as the one responsible.
This was Claudia's first year in the play and she did an excellent job.
Caiaphus and the high priests bring Jesus to Pilate, who tries three time to avoid condemning Jesus to death.
His first attempt is to send Jesus and His accusers to Herod, as Jesus was a Galilean and therefore not in Pilate's jurisdiction.
In the end, to keep the peace, he succumbed to Caiaphus and condemned Jesus to death by crucifixion.
The way of the cross is led by the Roman servant lads. The smallest boy has a tray carrying a hammer and nails. Behind the boys, the Roman soldiers prod Jesus forwards, with the Temple Guards, Caiaphus and the High Priests goading them from behind.
At the end, Pilate with his entourage, watch the final stages following his decision. He tells Caiaphus that the sign above Jesus will stay as it is, announcing the man on the cross as "Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews".
He also allows Joseph of Aramathea to have the body and gives Caiaphus some guards to defend the tomb.
This is another pivotal group drawn into the swirling eddies of Jesus' mission.
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