Augsburg Now: "Captive and Free" Synopsis
Fall 1997, Vol. 60, No. 1
Captive and Free
A synopsis
Scene 1: In the Courtroom
Johannes is accused of breaking the
Conventicle Act and the vagrancy law. The judge has difficulty with a
volatile audience, who are in two camps, his enemies and his friends. A
drunken man comes in and defends Johannes. The judge asks the gathering
to leave the premises.
Scene 2: The Jailer
Johannes is in his prison cell. The jailer bothers
him but Johannes does not answer. The jailer cuffs him on the ear,
Johannes turns the other cheek which cause the jailer to change his mind
about Johannes. As he leaves, the jailer asks Johannes to pray for him.
Scene 3: At the farm Tune
Kari loves Johannes, but he has left her
because he has given his life totally to Jesus. In this first song, Kari
complains about losing her love.
Scene 4:The Dance
A flock of unruly young people get the jailer to send a
beautiful girl into Johannes to seduce him. She comes out weeping.
Johannes has saved her, instead. She runs away. The dance continues. The
jailer releases Johannes so that he can dance. He sings a chorale.
Everyone is overwhelmed and goes away silently.
Scene 5: The Party
A group of bigoted citizens are gathered with the
pastor to discuss and criticize Johannes' social and economic
activities. Kari sings her second song. She has been saved.
Scene 6: The Mill
A group of workers is building a mill under the
leadership of Johannes.
Scene 7: Night in the Prison
A sleepless Johannes feels that he is being
tormented by evil powers.
Scene 8: Outside the Prison
Johannes' friends meet outside the prison.
Their effort to visit him is denied. Kari sings her third song. She
tells them Johannes is dead.
Scene 9: The Last Will and Testament
The friends read his testament,
which is in the form of a sermon. With the sunrise they sing to his
memory.
"Captive and Free" Story
A Word from One of the Authors
"Captive and Free" Synopsis
The Life of Hans Nielsen Hauge
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