Rich Copley Herald-Leader Culture Writer Some Things You Need to Know Before the World Ends (A Final Evening With the Illuminati) is a two-person play set in a church after an apocalyptic biological war. Reverend Eddie (Adam Luckey) and Brother Lawrence (Case) explore issues of faith in the dwindling hours. Luckey says he has been interested in the play for a while, after a Georgetown College professor showed it to him. He put plans to present it in motion when Case announced he was moving to Philadelphia this month."I said it's imperative that we do this show," Luckey says. "When I saw it, I knew immediately that Ryan and I could have a hell of a lot of fun with this show. ... He's very, very good at comedy, and I have not done much comedy." The satirical play takes an irreverent look at organized religion. Preparing to give a sermon titled Life Is Like a Basketball Game, Reverend Eddie has paranoid hallucinations."He's seeing the inconsistencies of the church teachings that he's been teaching," Luckey says. Some of the visions play out in "Monty Python-like" sketches, Luckey says."It puts Christianity on a skewer a little bit, but it's not blasphemous because there are many ways you take the messages," Luckey says. Case says it's a tricky show "because it's satire using religion as a focal point, and religion is on the rise. People get a little itchy, like 'I'm right and you're wrong.' So people could get a little upset if they hear you're doing a satirical piece on religion."But if you understand satire, it's not a problem." The duo say that the play looks at things like dogma for dogma's sake, contradictions between church doctrine and Scripture, and the ways religious leaders can mislead people -- drinking the Kool-Aid, so to speak.Religion and religious leaders have been at the center of controversy in recent weeks, from protests during the filming of The Da Vinci Code to evangelist Pat Robertson's recent statements suggesting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez be assassinated. Luckey and Case give a lot of credit to Gene and Natasha Williams, who are hosting the show at their restaurant, Natasha's Cafe, for being willing to present what could be a controversial play.During the past few years, Natasha's has become home to quite a bit of offbeat theater under the banner of Balagula Theatre. Much of it has been orchestrated by Luckey and featured Case. Case might be best known to local audiences for the title role in Actors Guild of Lexington's production of Bat Boy: The Musical, in fall 2003."A job promotion in the household" prompted Case's impending move, he said. He said he'll be looking to break into the Philadelphia theater scene and allowed that he might be back sometime, as all of his family is in Central Kentucky.Case's fate might not be as certain as Reverend Eddie's and Brother Lawrence's. Reach Rich Copley at (859) 231-3217 or 1-800-950-6397, Ext. 3217, or rcopley@herald-leader.com.'Some Things You Need to Know Before the World Ends (A Final Evening With the Illuminati)' IF YOU GOPresented by: Balagula Theatre When: Seating at 7:30 p.m. Sept 6-7 and 11-14.Where: Natasha's Cafe, 112 Esplanade. Tickets: $13, minus $1-$6 based on the roll of a die.Phone: (859) 259-2754. On the Web: www.beetnik.com. |