Several men who portrayed Jesus in plays or performances in Goa share how the experience moved them spiritually, and left a lasting impact on their hearts
SHERYL GONSALVES
Just thinking about the crucifixion of Jesus can leave a person with a whirlwind of emotions. There was the betrayal, the rebukes, and the agony of being tortured by those He came to save. Yet, He remained full of love and endured it all until the end. As we enter the Paschal Triduum, the Church prepares to encounter the very heart of God – through Maundy Thursday, where Jesus teaches humility by washing His disciples’ feet, and Good Friday, where He dies a horrifying death on the cross.
While it is difficult to imagine the pain that Jesus went through in this ultimate act of love, some people have been fortunate to have been able to essay the role of Jesus be it in plays or performances. This is a role that is far from just another character. It calls for deep reflection and spiritual preparation. And often, the experience is life-changing.
For Ryan Dsouza, the opportunity to play the part of Jesus for Good Friday at Don Bosco Fatorda back in 2011 came at the perfect time. “I had just finished my training in drama and acting at the Film and Television Institute called Anupam Kher’s Actors Prepare in Mumbai, which sharpened my acting skills. A short working period at the Divine Retreat Centre in 2010-2011 helped me get to know Jesus more closely and also act like Him in the best possible way. It was a deeply moving spiritual journey that left an indelible mark on my heart and soul,” he reflects. His pilgrimage to the Holy Land further enabled him to enact every lash, every fall, and it reminded him of the exact places where the 14 stations of the Passion took place. In fact, everyone was so touched by this performance that the church requested him to repeat the role in 2012.
“What made the experience so special was the realisation that this portrayal wasn’t about us. It was about touching hearts. We prayed that through our small human efforts, people watching might come a step closer to understanding the immense suffering, sacrifice, and mercy that Good Friday represents,” says Dsouza. Their efforts didn’t go to waste because many people approached him after the enactment, moved to tears, declaring that for the first time, they truly felt connected to Christ’s Passion. “That, to me, was the greatest reward – to know that God used this humble portrayal to stir something in someone’s soul. Playing this part changed me, deepened my faith, and reminded me that even in suffering, love triumphs,” he says.
In Shelton Victor De Melo’s case he got an opportunity to portray Jesus when the youth were requested to enact the Way of the Cross at Our Lady of Candelaria Church, Baina. They practiced diligently, aiming to make their portrayal as authentic as possible so that the audience could truly feel what Jesus went through, even though it was only a fraction of His suffering. During rehearsals, De Melo prayed that he would embody the role well and followed the method acting approach.
On the day of the performance, everyone was gathered, and he told the entire team to make it as believable as possible. “I told the guards to use the whip as they would in real life. I also told everyone acting that in case they saw me fall under the cross and struggle to get up, they should not come to help. I wanted it to be as real as possible,” shares De Melo. “As I was at each station, I was immersed in my act but also wondered how bad it must have been for Jesus to go through this. I’m only going through a little bit. That day onwards, I started taking the Passion of Christ seriously.” Later that day, he learned that some people were very emotional during the stations, and that children were asking their parents why Jesus was being beaten up. “Personally, that made me feel good about this practice because I had a deeper understanding, and the people could see what Jesus went through. It made the Way of the Cross personal to everyone present,” he reveals.
Frazer Valerian Fernandes also felt very humbled and blessed after he portrayed Jesus in a Konkani operetta called ‘Jivitachem Jivit Uzvaddacho Uzvadd’ in early April this year at the Pilar Pilgrim Centre.
“Portraying Jesus required me to go beyond acting. I prepared by reflecting deeply on His sacrifice, His miracles, and His teachings to the people,” he says, adding that he also spent time watching different actors playing Jesus in movies like ‘The Passion of the Christ’ and ‘The Chosen’ series. “During the performance, I felt a connection to the character. I felt that I was free of burden and spiritually connected to God,” says Fernandes. “It was something serene I felt for the first time in my life, which I never felt in other drama roles or productions.”
For Vivian DeSouza, the opportunity to play the part in a show organised in his college, came about quite unexpectedly.
“At first, I wasn’t the choice to play Jesus. I can’t remember how I ended up playing the role,” he reveals. The play centred around a young girl being introduced to the world by Jesus, where He shows her the beauty of His creation. But eventually, the snares of the world like drugs, alcohol, and parties, pull her in, and Jesus is kept from reaching out to her. Later, it all gets too overwhelming for her, and she tries to reach out to Jesus, but she is stopped by evil forces. In the end, Jesus, being the supreme God, breaks the barriers, reaches out to the girl, and brings her out of the evil snares. “It was a reminder to me of how God performs in our lives. I remember quite a number of people telling me how the skit brought tears to their eyes since it was a close depiction of our everyday lives,” says DeSouza, adding that for him personally, it felt as though he was in
Jesus’ shoes.
Acting in this play taught him that, at times, we stray from God in pursuit of worldly pleasures, and it can be difficult to break free. “That is when I know I have a God who is waiting to help me get out of whatever habits, vices, or addictions I’ve gotten myself into. He will intervene in that situation,” he says.
Another person who is no stranger to acting as Jesus is Kai Augusto Viegas Da Costa. He has acted in music videos and two Lenten dramas of the Pilar Music Academy. The experience touched him deeply. “One did not require extra effort to act,” he says. “It felt like Jesus was guiding me through it all. It brought me closer to Christ and the suffering He went through.”
