TheResurrection Song By MichaelAli Themuch awaited Easter play ‘The Resurrection Song’ premiered at the CardinalCordeiro Silver Jubilee Auditorium of St. Patrick’s High School, Karachi, to apacked house on April 11. His Grace,Archbishop Emeritus, Everest Pinto was the chief guest on opening night. Amongthe spectators were priests, nuns and a cross section of Catholic Karachi. Althoughthe play was presented by St. Anthony’s Parish it featured actors from otherparishes as well. The idea of presenting this play, a musical, was floated byNicholas Ali and Myron Mendes in November last year to Mr. Aloysius Soares ofSt. Anthony’s Choir and Rev. Fr. Mario Rodrigues, Parish Priest, who saw thisas a great opportunity to involve the youth of the community to depict theGospel narration of Christ’s final days on earth in color and song on the eveof holy week. Then,followed months of auditioning, preparations, prop and costume acquirement, experimentingwith sound and light and rehearsals late into the nights. ThePlay Thecopy-left play was written by Russell Adams, Larry Holder, Steve Israel andothers about a couple of decades ago and has been performed by church groups inmany countries around the world to commemorate the death and resurrection ofour Savior. Theplay, basically, a play of a play opens with the leader of a group informingits members that they are to perform a passion play and asking them to picktheir favorite Bible characters whom they wish to portray. Inhis introduction, Mr. Soares explains the background and aims of the play beingpresented. Thefirst scene is the Triumphant Entry of Christ into Jerusalem amid a welcomingcrowd waving palm fronds while the song ‘Shout Hosanna’ fills the auditorium. Thenext scene is of the Last Supper followed by In the Garden, Peter’s Denial,Death of Judas, Road to Golgotha, Foot of the Cross, The Resurrection, TheAscension and then ends with a Prayer. Thebeautifully sung songs accompanying the scenes were ‘Sacred Supper’, ‘I Lay itDown’, Secret Lies, ‘Ballad of the Cross’, Lover of my Soul, ‘I am theResurrection’ and finally ‘Praise Adonai.’ Theplay was produced by Rev. Frs. Mario Rodrigues and Noman Arif and directed byNicholas Ali and Myron Mendes. The music directors were Aloysius Soares andConstantino (Tino) Pinto. Theplay was superbly enacted with the actors playing the parts very well. Thosewith singing roles conducted themselves with aplomb and the costumes and propslent an authenticity to the ambience of the theme. TheCast Leader : Oswald Lucas, Manager : Sheena Moniz, Props Guy :Nicholas Ali, Jesus : Gerard Croning, Peter : Nigel Silveira, Bartholomew :Joseph Noronha, Philip : Leo Roberts, Andrew : Joel Paes, Simon : SelwynFernandes, Thaddeus : Nolasco Moniz, James : Raheel Victor, Thomas : FelicianusPereira, Matthew : Valentine Fernandes, James the Lesser : Reuben Andrews,Judas : Myron Mendes, John : Axel Lucas, Mary Magdalene : Janelle Dias, MotherMary : Rachel Martin–Daniel, Roman Centurion : Reuben Franklin, Servant Girl 1: Sasha Pereira, Servant Girl 2 : Amanda Fernandes, Room Keeper : BrendonEmmanuel, Courtyard Man : Shane Barrel, Demon 1 : Roxanne Lucas, Demon 2 : Trinnette Lucas, Demon 3: Celina D’Souza, Scoffer : Amanda Fernandes,Thief 1 : Reuben Andrews, Thief 2 : Lionel Braganza BackstageCrew CostumeDesigner: Leanne Coelho, Props Designer: Granville Noronha, Graphic Designer:Nerissa Noronha, Make-up Artists: Duranda Davies and Joanita Monteiro, Soundand Lighting: Edsel Menezes, Felix D’Souza and Ryan D’Souza StageDirector: Samantha Rodrigues , StageCrew: Oswald Breag, Rodney Pereira, Vanessa Samson, Jonah D’Souza, KevinMarshall, Shan Samuel and Anthony Rodrigues. Musicians: KeyBoardists: Patricia Mendes and Sheena Moniz ,Bass Guitarist: Gareth Extross, Guitarist: Sylvester Jacob and Yvette Franklin , Drummer: Elliot Gonsalves AuditoriumFacilitations: St. Anthony’s Ushers and Security Concludingthe evening’s program, His Grace in his remarks congratulated the team on the well-stagedproduction and said that he was happy to see the youth come together to pooltheir talents for the benefit of the community. Likewise, in his brief address,Rev. Fr. Mario Rodrigues also praised the youth and thanked them for their hardwork in bringing the idea to fruition. Finally,Director Nicholas Ali thanked the cast, production crew, helpers, producers, andmusic directors for their unstinted hard work and cooperation for making theplay a success and the Archbishop and audience for making time to grace theoccasion. He specially thanked Rev. Fr. Mario Rodrigues and Fr. Noman Arif forputting the various resources of the parish at their disposal. Theproceeds of the play will be donated to the Monastery of the Angels. Theplay was also performed on April 12 and 13.
