Guadalajara Reporter

Stunning scenery, handsome period costumes and dramatic action provided plenty of visual splendor to captivate the throngs attending the various episodes of the 2012 Ajijic Passion Play.  In each sequence, the eyes of the spectators were constantly drawn to Felipe de Jesus Angulo Marquez playing the lead role of Jesus of Nazareth.

The 22-year-old Ajijic native was well aware of the challenges he would face before he accepted the acting assignment last December. He appeared as Jesus in the 2010 and 2011 productions.

Serene and gentle by nature, Angulo seems well suited for the role. He was raised in a devout Catholic family that has been involved in the Pasion de Cristo group since in 1980. And, as a carpenter by trade, he even emulates the young Jesus in his day-to-day life.

In a recent interview with the Reporter’s Dale Hoyt Palfrey, Angulo shared personal perspectives on the town’s traditional representation of the Easter story and once again tackling the part of the Messiah.

What’s the most difficult aspect of preparing for the Passion Play?

Getting the whole cast together for rehearsals.

And for you personally?

Well, it starts with learning the dialogue.  I thought it would be easy to ace this time around, but the script was modified this year, with some new scenes thrown in. There are some parts where the wording has to be spoken exactly as drawn from Scripture. Beyond memorization, I have to practice delivering the lines so they make sense to audience. All that begins in January.

As soon as Lent starts, the principal actors get together regularly to run lines. The entire cast—more than 120 players in total—comes together to practice dialogue and movements towards the end of the 40-day rehearsal schedule.

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