PASSION PLAY

                                                    PASSION PLAY 

                                                                                                   

The Catholic Association of Bengal (CAB) revived a revered old tradition (reminiscent of the days of Frs. Weaver and Peter Gomes) by staging a Passion Play on Sunday 13^th. April in St. Xavier’s auditorium. The charismatic kerygma was unmistakeable under the intricate direction of Robert Dequadros who provided the commentary as filler with appropriate and perfectly timed background music. The haunting depth of Maurice Menezes’ rendition of “Via Dolorosa” surrounded the heart-rending scene of the way of the cross, punctuated by the lachrymose wailing of the women of Jerusalem. The opening scene of miraculous healings summarised the malaise of today’s world: blindness and anxiety. Michelle Selwyn was a natural in bringing out the maternal pathos that was surely Mary’s in her hour of sorrow. The flashy governor Pilate, played by the dashing Christen D’Cunha who swung his lines with panache in an otherwise sedately moving plot, portrayed political power dogged by ambiguity. He was almost rivalled by Satan (John Jacques, doubling as Barabbas) whose enticing antics around the agonising Jesus in Gethsemane offered some comic relief. To ensure that the Paschal Mystery was present to all people everywhere, the players processed along the aisles at different points of their act; the audience responded with affection.

Foot washing to paschal meal to trial and crucifixion were swept up into the grand narrative of God’s salvific action centred in his Son, Jesus Christ, whose role has been reproduced by thousands of actors down the centuries. This time it was the turn of Shelton Pyster. He accepted the challenge of rendering the Transcendent Lord on the stage, expressing himself with courage, clarity and serenity in a voice timbre that was not intimidating. It was amazing how he maintained corporal stillness after the “death” on the cross for such a length of time. This was perhaps the first time that the body of the Lord was shown being taken down from the cross, wrapped in a white shroud and borne away for burial.  The play lasted a trifle less than two hours, not counting the introductory formalities, but it succeeded in conveying its message of healing and hope. Members of the audience must surely have been deeply moved, some even tearfully, and the feeling of being restored may well have been resumed in the beautiful Rian Selwyn’s exquisite aria, “He made me whole.”

                                                 Reviewed by Fr. Mervyn Carapiet