Play details pain and suffering

How does someone survive 14 years of torture, imprisonment and starvation?

And how do they emerge from that smiling?

In 2017, the Voice of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC), launched its national tour featuring a new stage play called “Solitary Refinement”, which enacts incredibly true stories of best-selling author Richard Wurmbrand, while also addressing Christian persecution around the world. Richard Wurmbrand, also known as Nicolai Ionescu, was a Romanian Christian minister of Jewish descent. In 1948, having become a Christian 10 years before, he publicly said Communism and Christianity were not compatible. As a result, he experienced imprisonment and torture by the then Communist regime of Romania for his beliefs. After serving a total of 14 years, he was ransomed for $10,000. He died in 2001.

After successful tours in other parts of Canada, “Solitary Refinement” will be in Charlottetown today at 7 p.m. at Calvary Church (9 Capital Dr.).

This immersive experience expresses two parts of the 40-year-old mandate of VOMC: inspiring and educating Canadians on ways to assist Christian victims of persecution globally. The production was four years in the making.

“The play is affirming and informing, but also challenging,” states executive producer and VOMC’s CEO Doug McKenzie.

“It poses a powerful question in the here and now. Would we be willing to suffer for Christ, as others are doing in so many countries today?”

Award-winning playwright Dennis Hassell, who plays Richard Wurmbrand, said: “In researching Richard Wurmbrand’s story, I was surprised by joy. I discovered a man overflowing with hope and love and even humour. Amid the suffering, he found the supernatural. He found Christ in ways more tangible than we normally find in our comfortable churches.”

VOMC will be presenting the event for the community at large, free of charge, for ages 13 and up. The running time is 75 minutes. For more information, visit www.vomcanada.com/ touring.