Runyeon brings ‘Gospel of Mark’ to Chipley

Television and movie star Frank Runyeon said he first saw the “The Gospel According to Mark” on Broadway he “filed it away” for future reference. “I wondered if it could be performed more theatrically,” he said Thursday afternoon as he and volunteers at Chipley First Presbyterian Church prepared for that evening’s performance.

Doing “Mark” theatrically fit the way the gospel was probably presented to the early Church. “Bible scholars call Mark ‘the gospel on the run,’” Runyeon said. It was, in effect, a quick, effective presentation of the story of Jesus in the oral tradition.

“I tell it the way scholars believe Mark told the story those many years ago.”

Runyeon performed his worship presentation, “Afraid – The Gospel of Mark” as if it was in a catacomb in early Rome.

“Imagine with me that this fellowship hall is a very different place,” Runyeon said as the lights were lowered. Worshippers are under ground, with the only light coming from candles.

“Engraved are the names of the loved ones we have buried here,” he said. The Romans believe that Christians started a great fire that burned down much of Rome. Fellow Christians have been torn apart by wild beasts in the Coliseum, or tortured to death by Roman authorities. Many no doubt fear that the Romans could exterminate their religion.

“But, a man will tell you the story so we can keep this story alive,” Runyeon said.

Runyeon did not do a dry recital of Mark. He said that the gospel was more likely to be formed as a dramatic presentation. The gospel Runyeon presented was also different from the well-known King James Version because it is done in the present tense like in the original Greek. “Mark was never meant to be read, but heard,” Runyeon said.

Runyeon also believes that the gospel was performed in a single sitting, and his version takes a little over an hour to perform. Runyeon’s version also loses the controversial added-on ending of Mark, ending with the women fleeing the tomb, “and they didn’t say anything to anyone because they were afraid.”

“To the Christians being persecuted in ancient Rome, Mark was saying, ‘don’t be afraid, go finish the story of faith in your lives.’

“The gospel begins here.”

About Frank Runyeon
Played on television
•Steve Andropoulos on “As The World Turns.”
•Fr. Michael Donnelly on “Santa Barbara.”
•Tycoon Simon Romero on “General Hospital.”
•Talk show host Brooks Tapman on “L.A. Law.”
•Party boss Ed McClain on “Another World.”
•Chess genius Jovan Dmytryk on “Falcon Crest.”

In film
•Starred as Detective Marty Lowery in “Dark Streets.”

On stage
•Hercules in Aristophanes’ “The Birds.”
•Four other Bible texts adapted for one-man theatrical performances.

Education
•Graduate of Princeton University with a degree in religion.
•Attended Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, CA, in preparation for doing “Afraid.”
•Studied at Yale Divinity School.
•Earned his masters with honors from General Theological Seminary.