I grew up in the theater and learned miming. My father even has an autographed picture from Marceau, Marcel. Though for the most part mimes creep me out. The above performance is to be held at an Anglican Church with a article on it here. Looking at Google there is apparently a growing Christian mime ministry and as for me it is hard to think of anything more penitential than watching mimes on Good Friday. Though to be fair if done well, could actually be a good medium for meditation on the Stations of the Cross.
Good has come in the past from mimes in a Catholic context. A the World Youth Day held in Denver a mime troupe had a women portray Jesus in a performance of the Stations of the Cross. EWTN was covering this and Mother Angelica was so mad that she soon had her order return to the full habit they currently wear. God can always draw good even out of mime performances.
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Can we hope for the return of the silent Canon? We can also hope for a Mime Praise Band.
When I was about 15, the youthgroup I participated in did one of these mime-passions (I was Pilot). Everyone said they thought it was good and lots of women cried. Of course I wouldn’t call it “a creative mime interpretation” – it was more like “a ‘we aint got no money for good costumes’ interpretation”
Always makes me think of the Steven Wright one-liner:
“If you shoot a mime, should you use a silencer?”
Oh happy mime of Adam, that earned for us so great a Redeemer.
I think the mime ministry is at least a lot better than the clown ministry. I once experienced a clown ministry “Mass.” It was very disturbing.
Fortunately there can never be a mime Mass, since a mime can’t say the words of Consecration
To Tolkein 1138 (any relation to THX 1138?):
Of course one can have a mime mass. Haven’t you ever heard of sign language?
To Dave:
While one can shoot a mime, either with or without a silencer, it is a better practice not to: as we all know, a mime is a terrible thing to waste.
The CCC on Mime:
9857: No
Mimes… makes it hard for the crowd to yell “Crucify him!” and “He trusted in God that he would deliver him; let him deliver him, if he delight in him!” it’d be a lot of violent and extravagant gestures,which wouldn’t really get he point across, I think. but what do I know? I’ve never seen miming performed more than once in my life.
“When I was about 15, the youthgroup I participated in did one of these mime-passions (I was Pilot).”
Isn’t that for the Flight Into Egypt in a a Nativity Play?
To settle this is impossible.
But personally, I listen to the Bach St. John Passion on Good Friday…
As to the shooting–when he’s shot, and falls down–will anybody hear it?
Funny you bring up this topic. I was watching “Flowers for Algermime” last night.
It is a touching story about a boy in a coma who develops remarkable mime skills, only to learn that they are temporary and that he will return to his previous state.
In the end, he winds up worse than before… completely wooden… He ends up… Al Gore.
Given that our choir chooses songs that no one in the congregation knows, with notes that no one can reach, they might as well BE mimes. Their ability to lead the community in worship would probably be enhanced.
“In the Beginning was the Word.”
Is this a sign of the End?
I’m reminded of a character in Terry Pratchett’s satire-fantasy Discworld series, Lord Vetinari, who has ordered all mimes arrested on sight and imprisoned in a dungeon with the inscription “LEARN THE WORDS!” engraved on the wall.
Our priest had the youth group mime the gospel last Easter. It was, to say the least, disturbing. He did get reprimanded though; I’m a little nervous about this year but we have to go to support our RCIA class, otherwise we’d head up to the Benedictine Monastery nearby where we can soak up full contact liturgy. Our parish, like many others, has a mass to suit anyone – 8:00 am is for old people (quiet, and also the one we attend) 10:00 am is for families and is of Haugen/Haas variety and noon is for youth and is about as close to a charismatic mass as we get. All I can say is I really really hope and pray there will be no mime this year.