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By Mary Therese Biebel mbiebel@timesleader.com
Features Writer
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With just a few days left before the Christmas Eve debut of his new nativity play, “Ferdinand’s Visit to the Manger,” the Rev. Gerald Gurka gave stage directions to the cast.

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Bernice May, 9, plays Rennie, a sheep with a pivotal role in the Nativity Play ‘Ferdinand’s Visit to the Manger,’ which will be presented on Christmas Eve at St. John the Baptist Church in Larksville.

FRED ADAMS photos/ FOR THE TIMES LEADER

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Richard Wisniewski of Larksville portrays the ‘Old Shepherd,’ a manifestation of God in the nativity play ‘Ferdinand’s Visit to the Manger,’ written by the Rev. Gerald Gurka.

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If you go

What: ‘Ferdinand’s Visit to the Manger’

Who: Written by the Rev. Gerald Gurka

When: 4 p.m. Thursday, Christmas Eve

Where: St. John the Baptist Church, 126 Nesbitt St., Larksville

Admission: Free

“Clovis, you’re supposed to really point fingers and laugh,” the playwright priest told 9-year-old Dylan Weaver.

The boy portrays one of several village children who ridicule Ferdinand Sertl, a gatekeeper from 17th-century Austria, and are in turn punished by ruler-wielding nuns.

What, you may ask, are these 17th-century Europeans doing in a drama where much of the action takes place on the first Christmas, in Bethlehem, surrounded by angels and shepherds and a hen-pecked innkeeper?

“This is the first time I’ve enhanced one of my plays with time travel,” said Gurka, who is affectionately known as Father Jerry to his cast of 50.

In “Ferdinand’s Visit to the Manger” – the latest in a series of plays Gurka has crafted every Christmas and Easter for years – the title character is a youth plagued by mysterious seizures. He goes back in time to witness the birth of Jesus and helps Joseph repair the stable roof. He also gives a wax figurine to the holy family and is healed of his epilepsy.

“All of us want healing in some way, whether it’s physical healing or the courage to do what we have to do or the courage to face Christmas without a loved one,” Gurka said before the weekend rehearsal at St. John the Baptist Church in Larksville.

“If (the audience) can take some joy home for Christmas, we’ve achieved our purpose.”

The play explores the legend of Ferdinand, which has been handed down for generations at Christkindl Church, a popular pilgrimage destination in Steyr, Austria.

Along with the traditional story of the birth of Christ and the challenges Ferdinand faces, the play blends many lighter moments.

The three kings, for example, employ some one-upmanship as they show off their gifts to the audience.

A team of trees tosses a diaper around as if it’s a hot potato.

And, to the delight of many younger members of the cast, the animals have distinct personalities.

“I jump with glee when they’re decorating the tree,” said Keri Bobeck, 9, who portrays a dog Mr. Innkeeper brings home to his perpetually irate wife.

The dog, as you might expect, is no fan of Mrs. Innkeeper and her sour disposition. Neither is Rennie, a sheep played by 9-year-old Bernice May who is called upon to “bite” the villain in the leg.

“Open your mouth wide,” Gurka encouraged Bernice during a rehearsal break. “Like you have vampire teeth.”