Sound and light spectacle

IT WAS Palm Sunday eve. The tree-studded campus of St.George's Cathedral Church, Chennai, came alive to the spectacle of the enactment of the life of Jesus Christ. In song, dialogue (mime) and dance with light and sound, the story of the Saviour unfolded in picturesque detail. For children and those who were seeing ``Jesus'' for the first time, it turned out to be a great experience. In fact, the ``mega show'' as Rev. N. G. Mathew, the presbyter, put it, was being staged after an interval of years. The annual passion tide event was first presented in the Cathedral 20 years ago and the audience literally ``marched'' or moved with the change in sets.

The director and brain behind the sound and light programme, Shobana Mala Martin, has done a commendable job in putting the act together with an almost 60-strong cast that included children too, five stages positioned in five different places and elaborate sets. Beginning with the birth of the Lord, the Journey of the Magi, baptism in River Jordan, the Beatitudes and Mount Sermon, the miracles, the triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Last Supper, betrayal, trial and crucifixion, the show ended with the awesome reality of Resurrection.

Including all the salient features of an entire synoptic gospel in a 74-minute capsule, called for a discerning eye and painstaking effort and the son-et-lumiere staged on April 15 amply demonstrated this and more. After 40 days of fasting (which is now referred to as Lent), Jesus was in the Wilderness when along came the Evil One to tempt and trip the Master. Aptly the episode was enacted on the lofty heights of the Cathedral, and the impact was dramatic. The first Temptation had a skeleton dangling in front of Jesus! The introduction of a scene which gives a plausible explanation for Judas taking the decision that he did, will find purists objecting to it as not Biblical, but it helped. The same could not be said of the suggestion of the feminist angle invested in the words of the Lord about caring for women.

The happy occasion of Palm Sunday saw Jesus and an adoring crowd waving palms and following him to the melodious strains of ``Gloria.'' The instrumental `Rock of Ages' right through the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and beyond enhanced the tragic appeal. The Upper Room effect of the last supper Jesus shared with his 12 disciples was captured by the choice of location - aloft the parish hell and those incredible chairs which were used. But the delivery of punch lines such as `Judas went out and it was night' or poignant moments like Peter breaking down at the end were a little casual.

More than one Jesus and Judas donned costume to save time in scene shifts. Since the sound and songs were recorded, actors had to lip sync and co-ordinate hand movements and footwork. The whipping of Jesus (played by Abilash) on his way to Calvary was painfully real and the crucifixion of Christ along with two thieves was done with sensitivity.

The lighting, as in the tomb scene when Christ rises from the dead, was put to telling effect. The Governor Pontius Pilate, the criminal Barabbas, the high priest Caiaphas impressed with their colourful attire and posturing.

The last mentioned wore an apron with 12 stars depicting the 12 tribes. A touch of class was the Ascension of Jesus as ``Handel's ``Hallelujah Chorus'' filled the air, and the 2000-strong audience broke into spontaneous applause.

The choice of hymns and special sound effects which was taken care of by Mr. Samson played an important part in the evening's success.

SELINE AUGUSTINE

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