Okay, so I've already mentioned that I go to a religious university. I've even mentioned how some individuals can go a tad to far with their beliefs (the guy who tried to give me the bible and the student who was "concerned" for me). However, I have yet to tackle the issue of how religious the collective school is.
Every year my school holds an Easter Pageant. As mentioned in the story "Full Immersion" the students at school get together and reenact the crucifixion of Jesus. It's a huge deal and parents, newspapers, business owners, whole churches, nearly every voice in the Texas Christian community, comes to see this performance that's done only three times in one day, once a year. It's a big deal.
Ever since I heard about this I knew I wanted to be in it. Now, before I go on, this isn't one of those "I saw Christ in the Script and began to believe". Nu-uh. This was "Holy shit! I could be Judas and perform one of the most well known illegal transactions in history!" type of things.
Yep, I wanted to be the "Great Betrayer" Judas Iscariot.
So, I figured to get the part I needed to do what most people in theater have to or should do, brown nose the people in charge. What I didn't take into consideration is that people saw my shows (I ha done at least two more since the "Full Immersion" story) and got the ludicrous idea that I would take this as an opportunity to get new material. I have no clue how that crossed anyone's mind. Well, it was either that, r me telling my roommate that I "wanted to re-write the role of Judas and make him into a real Jew!". I pretty much told my roommate:
Me: When I get the part I'm totally re-writing the role.
CR: (Christian Roommate): What do you mean?
Me: I'm going to make Judas into the true Jew that he was.
CR: How will you do that?
Me: Instead of throwing down the pieces of silver I would get for selling Jesus to the Romans, I'm going to take it and invest it in the first Bank/Deli of Jerusalem. It'll be fabulous! Screw that guilt and suicide BS. I'm going to bring truth to Judas' story!
Well, word got out what I wanted to do. In the end, I wasn't allowed the part on the stupid rule that: The Jesus elected that year picks his own Disciples.
I called hate crime. They called "Protecting the Authenticity of the Story of Christ".
I was robbed. However, I didn't let up? Oh hell no! I kept at it and as of last year, I am now a past cast member of the Easter Pageant! Unfortunately, the Jesus-Elect last year didn't pick me either. Instead, I was one of the Perjurers. What that title mean was, I was playing one of the men who was paid to give false testimonies about Jesus' miracles during his trial. Perfect. Not quite Judas, but its a start.
I got the part in an odd way though. During the rehearsal for the play, rehearsals are at least twice a week, for about........three or so months, I wasn't seeing much of my then, and still current, roommate. Being the needy, slightly paranoid person that I am, I thought I would be able to spend more time with him if I signed the piece of paper saying, "I want to be in the easter Pageant. Whatever role I'm assigned I will carry out with the truth and honesty that Christ showed during his lifetime.". It said something along those lines. Either way, it's been my first signed gig.
I was given the role that most walk-on cast members get: crowd member. All Ihad to do was walk around and marvel at the "miracles" that Jesus was performing. For us itw as turning baby oil to kool-aid. Very exciting stuff here. During practice one day I had one of the "producers" (or whatever the students with power called themselves) come up to me and ask, "Do you want a speaking role? If so, we have a part that was made for you.". I, being the conservative and behind-the-scenes person that I am said, "Why do you ask stupid questions? you already know the answer." Five minutes later I was told that I would be Perjurer #2. My line, "And rebuild it in three days!". My role was simple. I was to play one of the men hired to lie at Jesus' trial. My line pertained to the part of the story where Jesus was supposedly caught saying that he could destroy the temple of God "and rebuild it in three days!". I leaped at the role. Not only would I have a thousand people watching me, but I would have a thousand people watching me tell one of the most famous "lies" ever! It was perfect.
Needless to say the show went off without a hitch and I had a few people tell me I looked to happy to be saying my line. I wonder why? Either way, I had fun.
Oh! I also got an early Hanukah present! It turned out that the Jesus for the '09-'10 school year, was my then soon-to-be roommate in the fall! I was, and am, one step closer to becoming Judas.
If I get my way, come Spring, I'm buying everyone pita and falafel with my thirty silver pieces.
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