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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
Preacherosity
Verdict: The sins of Bubbling Springs
Preacherosity is a religious comedy which surprisingly works for both atheists and fanatics. And that, it has to be said, is an achievement.
It explores an entirely original Second Coming, involving a pair of the finest cowboy boots and a bucket load of attitude. Well, we are in Texas – what did you expect?
Preacherosity follows a supposedly God-fearing church committee in their attempt to find a new preacher. Suitors are in short supply, until they receive a brief call from a potential answer to their prayers. This crew are not easy to please - rigid in their beliefs and limited by their small-town mentality. The new arrival descends upon the wee town of Bubbling Springs to many objections.
Until, that is, he turns their world upside-down, emptying the trash can of their lives for all to witness. And proves that God really does come in many forms, if only people can take off their blinkers long enough to see him.
This is a dissection of the Southern Baptist community and their beliefs. In all its fire, it is essentially the US equivalent of the Church of England. The main similarity? The notion that once saved, always saved - and there’s no damn way you’re not going to be sat with the Big Guy when your time comes. Which, of course, disregards the very foundation of faith - to keep us working at being good while we’re still here.
The hypocrisy of this flaw is nailed like Jesus to the cross by writer Larry Herold. And God bless him for finally saying it out loud.
The set is minimal and imaginatively designed (by Kate Bannister and Karl Swinyard) - proving yet again that less can most definitely be more. Back-panels of stained glass shattered with gospel features are the main focus – creating a mixture of the old with the new shining through.
The cast all chew up the feast of a script and spit it out with as much hell and fury as it demands. A warning - this is not a play for the weak-eared. You’ve got to keep up with the Texan talk, and it’s a credit to director Omar F Okai that he doesn’t cater the speed and pace of the dialogue and action to the British palate. We in Blighty throw enough colloquial language around and expect the rest of the world to keep up. It’s only fair we should extend the courtesy.
The characters, and in turn, the performances, are filled to the brim with uniqueness and colour. The prophet (Robert Godfrey) presented here is a refreshing and powerful contrast to the usual meek and mild model we’ve all been taught to accept. We see him as a flawed man – as in the very start of the play - who simply refuses to bring anyone to a pedestal who doesn’t deserve to be there. Indeed, he himself stands in front of the pulpit through the majority of his address.
So instead of going to church next Holy Day to confess your sins, head on down to Bubbling Springs, Texas (entrance via Jermyn Street Theatre). You’ll find a suitcase full of sins, a congregation posed to prostrate themselves and - you never know - you might just walk away wanting to go back for more. I did, and I’m not a believer.
