CONCERT REVIEW: Peter - The Rock, by Richard and Sylvia Rice-Oxley, St John the Baptist Church, Morton

The life of Saint Peter has been turned into a musical by retired Anglican priest Richard Rice-Oxley and his wife Sylvia.

An appreciative audience at St John the Baptist Church, Morton, on Saturday night were taken through the chequered life of the Christian widely regarded as having been the first prominent leader of the Christian church.

Through songs, including Follow, Follow, Jesus Shines, Restoration and Rescue from Prison, Rice-Oxley's musical depicted the life of a man "who reached the heights and plumbed the depths" according to the night's narrator.

What become apparent throughout the performance was Rice-Oxley's care in making the experiences in Peter's life as transparent and as unvarnished as possible.

At one point, Confession of Faith captures the high point of Peter's relationship with Christ when he acknowledges him to be "the Son of the Living God".

In stark contrast, Denial is an account of the church leader's collapse under pressure when he disowns any connection with Jesus.

Fortunately, the musical suitably reflects Peter's comeback from shame as he goes on to pay the ultimate price for his faith, having been an agent of the very same miracles that Jesus himself performed.

The healing of the lame man outside the temple appears in the song, There's No Other Name, while Peter's release from prison and his courage while under persecution form the basis of the songs Faith Tested and Kingdom Road.

Review by Winston Brown