There is no doubt about the popularity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thousands of books and a good number of theatrical, television and big screen productions have told the story of his transcendental life. With this in mind Lemonhead Productions in association with Net Television embarked on their project Jien Hu.

This project started in April 2001 as a one-off Net television drama for the Holy Week, which told the story of Jesus Christ with a twist. Following its success, we adapted this twisted story to the humble stage at the MITP Theatre for March 2002. By popular request, Jien Hu was broadcast on Net Television for a second time in March 2002.

Imagine what the world would be like if the Roman Empire , whose rule prospered over two thousand years ago, was still in power today. That is what our screen and stage interpretation of Jien Hu was all about.

The year is 2002 and the Roman Empire has managed to keep its empire throughout the years. Caesar rules the world. His niece, Klawdja, is married to the recently promoted general Pontius Pilate. Caesar is not very fond of Pilate. However, being married to his niece, Caesar feels he has to offer him a prominent position.

Pilate governs Israel . He is a broken down man living in a land where he is despised because of his Roman blood and is constantly abused by the ambitious political Jewish High Priests. He hates the place and cannot tolerate the hypocrisy of the high priests. Pilate spends most of his time at work, relaxing in his leisure centre and is generally away from home. His wife Klawdja is a dreamer. She stays at home with no peers - just her dreams and their analysis.

On one occasion she dreamt about Jesus and recounted the whole dream to her husband. For Pilate this is bad enough but when he listens to her shocking interpretation of the dream he gets hysterical - to the point that he decides to interrogate Jesus. Pilate tries to exercise supreme power over his prisoner. During his interrogation with Jesus, he often tries to look superior, but Jesus' smiling face and serenity throws him into deeper confusion and hysteria.

Barabbas is quite a contrast to Jesus' character. On seeing Christ and Barabbas together in the same cell one gets the impression that Barabbas is the stronger and domineering character of the two. The philosophical dialogue that evolves between the two proves otherwise. Jesus' sweetness and charisma takes over completely.

The dilemma of what Pilate should do, between satisfying his wife Klawdja and set Jesus free, or satisfy the nation and execute Christ, is the crux of the whole plot. What he devises is ingenious.

Pilate hires Peter, a skillful secret service agent, to brutally disfigure Barabbas' face so badly that, as Pilate would sneer, "not even his own mother could recognize him". It was Pilate's aim to make Barabbas totally unidentifiable and urged Peter to dislocate the victim's jaw or otherwise hinder him from speaking. This would make it easier for Barabbas to be mistaken for someone else, given the right introduction.

To satisfy all those who depended on him, Pilate decides to present the indistinguishable Barabbas as Jesus to the crowds who wanted to see Jesus dead. Barabbas would then be killed and the mobs would praise Pilate for getting rid of Jesus. Meanwhile, the real Jesus will be exiled from his Empire, never to be seen again. This makes Klawdja happy as her mind is rest assured that Jesus, such an innocent man, was not killed. Pilate was bound to win the best of both worlds with this plan.

As assigned, Peter entered the cell were both Jesus and Barabbas sat. Peter asked which one of them was Barabbas. Jesus stood up hastily and claimed to be Barabbas with the words "Jien Hu" (translated, "I am he"). Peter took Jesus away to be tortured and eventually killed, leaving Barabbas dumbfounded inside the cell. Shocked that Jesus had confessed he was the Messiah as soon as Peter barged in the door. Disbelieving that Jesus gave up his life for his. He realised, that his cell companion had a strong power that Pilate could never surpass - Jesus loved.

If you missed the show, have a look at this VIDEO CLIP taken from our last year's televised Jien Hu to get an idea of our interpretation of the story.

Jien Hu was aired on Net Television during the Holy Week of April 2001. It was then staged at the MITP Theatre, St Christopher's Str, Valletta on the 15th, 16th and the 17th of March 2002.

Net TV - Cast & Crew

Pilatu - CHRYSANDER AGIUS
Gesu - ANTHONY BUSUTTIL
Barabba - BRYAN MUSCAT
Klawdja - ETHEL KAWKI
Joan - GERTRUDE BORG MARKS
Kajfas - SILVIO GALEA

Script - BRYAN MUSCAT
Loggings - CELINE ABELA
Continuity - TRICIA FABRI
Sound - Ishmael Agius
Camera - Keith Mizzi
Asst. Production - LOUISE MUSCAT
Direction - BRYAN MUSCAT

Production
BRYAN MUSCAT / LEMONHEAD PRODUCTIONS / NET TV
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MITP - Cast & Crew

Pilatu - CHRYSANDER AGIUS
Gesu - ANTHONY BUSUTTIL
Barabba - BRYAN MUSCAT
Klawdja - ETHEL KAWKI
Joan - TRICIA FABRI
Kajfas - Silvio Galea
Annas - Lawrence Buontempo
Security Guard - Samuel Agius

Stage Manager - JOE CALLUS
Lights - LOUISE MUSCAT
Script / Direction - BRYAN MUSCAT
Production - LOUISE MUSCAT / BRYAN MUSCAT