Each line walker is given a reason to be out there, and a basic set of lines to say. They are welcome to ad lib as needed since we never know what people in the crowd will ask or say, but they MUST stay in character and within the confines of the information that will be provided to them about the time period. Line walkers often switch off with other jobs within the city walls, as the wait in line is so long and seeing the same few people over and over in line is unrealistic.
Line Walkers, (and any character with a speaking part) must attend a training class provided to learn the details of the time period and people who lived back then. They must park at the school in the designated cast parking, arrive at fellowship hall on time each evening of the event as they are scheduled, and be in costume and ready to head to the city when the first call is made. Costumes not including leather sandals are provided by our costume team. As soon as the prayer concludes at the well, the first team needs to head out in pairs, as instructed in the training class. Second team remains in the city, switching off by two’s when the first team returns. While line walkers are in the city, they are nomads.
Line Walkers are very important to The Bethlehem Project because they present the first impression of the reality of the time of Christ. If a line walker slipsoutof character, or recognizes friends in line with contemporary language or even a knowledge of current events, the visitors will bein the mindset of going to a play, and perhaps not a good one. Wewant to create an entireatmosphere of reality. Of stepping into another world,andinto another time.