Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Passion Play explores Easter story

Jackie Schlotfeldt News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jschlotfeldt@news-bulletin.com

Belen The emotions on stage were high, with real tears streaming down the faces of many of the actors during the rehearsal of the "Son of the Father," a slightly different version of the "Death of the Messiah" passion play.

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For the ninth year, the Companions for Jesus of New Mexico will bring to life the non-denominational Christian message of the last week of Jesus' life that leads up to his crucifixion to communities across New Mexico.

While most people are familiar with the story of Jesus, watching the scenes unfold before your eyes and the range of emotions brought to each character by the cast gives you a tangible sense of the love and betrayal the Savior experienced during his last days.

Approximately 60 members make up the cast of the play, but this year there's a new version being acted out onstage. "Son of the Father" will be reenacted, combined with some scenes from the "Death of the Messiah" that portray the last week of the life of Jesus and the miracles that led up to his arrest and crucifixion.

Director Therese Hidalgo said this year's version will also be special because the last time it was done was in 2003, the late Father Robert "Albert" Gallegos read the opening to the play from the book of John. With the use of audio tape, Gallegos will once again be present, if only in voice, to add to this year's production.

"We will us his voice for the prologue in this year's play," Hidalgo said. "At the beginning, our late Father Gallegos opens the play reading the prologue from the book of John."

Gallegos passed away nearly one year ago after serving as a priest for 11 years at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Peralta. He was 70 years old and had been a priest for 42 years.

Hidalgo explained that Pat and Joe Brown of Michigan first brought the Passion Play to New Mexico. She said they were the ones who planted the seed to start a traveling troupe to continue the sacred work.

Hidalgo went on to say that the passion play is multi-generational with young and old alike participating, year after year, in what has become a tradition for many families.

"We have children playing adult parts now," Luz Chavez said smiling. "When they were little, you thought they weren't listening (to everyone else's part) but they know all the lines (for all the parts)."

Patsy Torres and her granddaughter too have been acting since the inception of the first performance and she said it brings them closer together.

"She grew up with us," Torres said.

One actor, Robert Kaneshiro, has been playing the part of Jesus since the play began and he said it never gets old.

"It's very spiritual," Kanshiro said. "Being able to reach out and touch people makes it worth it."

Kaneshiro said being able to use Gallegos' voice for this year's production makes it seem like he is still there.

"He is with us in spirit," Kaneshiro said. "It's joyous to hear his voice."

"The goal is to share the word with all people," Hidalgo said.

The Son of the Father will open on Saturday, March 15, at 7 p.m. at Grace Fellowship in Tomé, followed by a performance on March 16, Palm Sunday, at 3 p.m. at the San Clemente Parish Hall in Los Lunas.

Only one performance will be given on Good Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Belen High School Fine Arts Auditorium.

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