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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
Holy Days
Verdict: Bible sex parody
Holy Days parodies the Holy Family, Trinity, and Americans, in half an hour. It's unlikely to be be denounced from the pulpit, but the Americans might bomb it.
Holy Days poses the question: what would have happened if the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and all his friends, had been Americans?
Inevitably, the New Testament would become needs-based and me-centred, people would talk about sex, and God would face a mid-life crisis. And so it came to pass.
Allah's a bar-tender. Jesus is a thin man in white towel and pants, otherwise naked; when he gets dressed-up he adds a dinner jacket. God carries a crucifix. St Paul has red hair and wears a tea-towel over his head. The Virgin Mary, Mother of God, wears blue. Neddy, her donkey, chews straw. Mother Teresa is small and hooded. The Holy Spirit, here called the Holy Ghost (HG), wears a leather jacket and white shroud. Mary Magdelene is excellently tarty with pretty russet hair, red trousers, black leather jacket and stylish black shoes; and later in black leather skirt and fishnet tights. Satan has a neat pair of red horns.
Will the Virgin Mary get her way and replace her blue headscarf with raunchy red? Will Mother Teresa bonk St Paul? Will Jesus and Mary Magdelene get together in a non-religious way?
It's a light comedy, unlikely to cause offence. There are some cracking jokes, (Holy Ghost: 'Come on. You're not going to be 32 for ever'; Jesus: 'I think you'll find I am') (Paul: 'I've got a letter to write to the Corinthians'; Jesus: 'Another?'; Paul: 'They never reply').
Each actor delivers an entertaining and funny performance. Maggie Gordon-Walker however steals the show with a Mary Magdelene combining raunch and a Mae-West-quality delivery of glorious one-liners ('Jesus, if you're going to give me a sermon, make it the Sermon On The Mount'). If Mary Magdelene's statue subsequently attracts more prayers than normal at churches during Advent, it will be for entirely the wrong reasons.
Cast Credits (alpha order): Juliet FitzGerald - Virgin Mary. Maggie Gordon-Walker - Mary Magdelene. Briony Hannah - Mother Teresa, Holy Ghost. Steve Hansell - Allah, Neddy The Donkey, Satan. Hugh Jones - God. Ciaran Murtagh - St Paul. Peter Rates - Jesus Christ.
Company Credits: Writers, Directors - Hugh Jones & Ciaran Murtagh. Sound Design - Rupert Lally. Company -
The Black Sheep. Technical operator - Emma Hawkins. Producer - Tally Parr for Host Universal.
END
John Park
reviewed Tuesday 9 December 03 / Soho Theatre
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2011
