THE BASICS: This theological comedy/drama/fantasy by Stephen Adly Guirgis is an Easter present from Road Less Traveled production. Directed by Artistic Director Scott Behrend, it runs weekends at the Market Arcade Film and Arts Centre through 5/22. Be prepared for a long evening; the show runs nearly three hours with its ten minute intermission.
THUMBNAIL SKETCH: Purgatory, time out of time. Fabiana Aziza Cunningham, a much bruised and abused modern-day resident, has decided to get the catatonic Judas Iscariot out of Hell, to rehabilitate his severely tarnished image, by means of a heavenly sanctioned trial. The pandering, oily Yusef El-Fayoumy, a fellow Purgatorian, argues the case for the prosecution.
THE SHOW AND THE CAST: Witty and ebullient, foul-mouthed but always thoughtful, LAST DAYS is a close cousin to Kevin Smith’s wonderful 1999 film, DOGMA. Those familiar with that movie will know what they’re getting into with this play. The playwright has concocted a busy, very funny first act, which propels us into intermission on an intellectual high. The problem: the Jesus/Judas last days story has a large cast of supporting characters, and playwright Guirgis wants everybody to have his/her say. The eighty-minute second act runs out of steam, in good part because of some talky stretches reminiscent of the old Steve Allen MEETING OF THE MINDS show. The trial construct, a good one, is never fleshed out properly, and the actual motivation of Judas, an item of extreme interest, also gets short shrift. To make matters worse, the show ends quite unexpectedly, with a whimper, not a bang.
That said, a lot of fine local actors have a helluva time here, bringing their big- name characters to life. My particular favorites: Jim Maloy as Judge Littlefield and Caiaphus the Elder, Kristen Tripp Kelley as Mary Magdalene, David Oliver as Satan, David Hayes as Sigmund Freud, and Adrienne Lewis as the potty-mouthed Saint Monica. Happily, there are no weak links in the large cast.
PRODUCTION VALUES: Director Behrend gets good performances, but meekly follows playwright Guirgis into some murky theatrical waters, and ends up with a nearly ungainly final product. This play needs to be tightened and focused, and cut down by at least thirty minutes. Kudos to David Butler for his highly atmospheric, bombed-out church set, wonderfully lit by John Rickus. There is also a little fine, moody music, courtesy of Katie Menke.
Photos courtesy of (C) 2011 MageziPhotography
FINAL THOUGHTS: Funny, original and intellectually challenging, THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT works very well indeed for about ninety minutes. Too bad it goes on for nearly three hours! The RLT production is handsome, and I had a good enough time to vault this one to…
*HERD OF BUFFALO (Notes on the Rating System)
ONE BUFFALO: This means trouble. A dreadful play, a highly flawed production, or both. Unless
there is some really compelling reason for you to attend (i.e. you are
the parent of someone who is in it), give this show a wide berth.
TWO BUFFALOS: Passable, but no great shakes. Either the production is pretty far off base, or the play itself is problematic. Unless you are the sort of person who’s happy just going to the theater, you might look around for something else.
THREE BUFFALOS: I still have my issues, but this is a pretty darn good night at the theater. If you don’t go in with huge expectations, you will probably be pleased.
FOUR BUFFALOS: Both the production and the play are of high caliber. If the genre/content are up your alley, I would make a real effort to attend.
FIVE BUFFALOS: Truly superb–a rare rating. Comedies that leave you weak with laughter, dramas that really touch the heart. Provided that this is the kind of show you like, you’d be a fool to miss it!
Starring David Oliver, Victoria Perez, Jim Maloy, Kristen Tripp-Kelley, Barry Williams, David Hayes, Philip Davis, Jay Pichardo, Matt Witten, Adrienne Lewis, Verneice Turner, Lisa Vitrano, Brian Riggs, and Rolando Gomez
Road Less Traveled Productions
39 Main Street,
Buffalo NY 14203
P: (716)-903-9936
www.roadlesstraveledproductions.org