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The first thing I noticed when the curtain was raised was the magnificent set. Jeff Thomson has done it again. Stage West, the smaller theatre of the Herberger's two, looked enormous with Thomson's four to a side, vacant- headed monks atop three foot boxes, flanking each side of the stage. A large, metal crucifix standing upstage center was comprised of various objects including legs and arms, and eventually a basketball backboard and hoop.
The next thing to capture your attention is Gerald Burgess as Reverend Eddie, running around frantically pulling pages from bibles. And then, Death makes an appearance-with a basketball? Things get more convoluted from there were many scenes take place outside of the church arena and the actors take on entirely different characters.
Reverend Eddie thinks the Illuminati are out to get him. Opposite his fire, brimstone and Tourret-like sexual behavior, is Brother Lawrence, play by Bob Sorenson. Brother Lawrence is a lame hunchback who has a preponderance to tell stories. He is Reverend Eddie's faithful servant and alter boy. It would appear that all of the town has died from some sort of gas attack and they are the only two that survived. Reverend Eddie tries to prepare his sermon for the evening. Then, after a brief black out, out of no where, both actors are preparing the church in rhythm to Prince's "Let's Go Crazy." After this distraction and another blackout, they resume character. They continue to discuss the sermon and then, after another black out, they brake out in song and cowboy garb for a rendition of "God is a Lutheran."
While this concludes the musical portion of the evening, there are many cuts to seemingly unconnected scenes. In one such scene, Sorenson is a fisherman that wants to become a saint. Later, this newly anointed saint has a chat with a Saint about women. All the while, Reverend Eddie continues to deliver his sermon on how "Life is like a Basketball Game." The play ends with death taking on Rev. Eddie for a little one-on-one.
After leaving the "play", I had no idea what the playwright or director Matthew Wiener wanted me to walk away with. I certainly had a good time but was confused most of the time as to what to expect. In the musical Nunsense, the characters poked fun at religion, broke the fourth wall, and asked for audience participation, as did Illuminati. But Nunsense had a plot, albeit a lame one. Illuminati didn't give any clues as to where we were heading or when or why. I suppose this is the ultimate of the "theatre of the absurd."
For the most part, it's Burgess as "straight" man and Sorenson performing just below the Jerry Lewis line with slap stick and sight gags. All the while, both are waxing irreverent. Both actors played to perfection. Burgess, a founding member of ATP who plays Scrooge each year, took Reverend Eddie to the brink of insanity, and back to the insanity of religious ritual. His best bit was his "machine": a bicycle with streamers rigged to whip his back as he rode. Sorenson, another valley veteran of stage, film and television, played up his roles brilliantly. His acrobatic moves, his show tune medley, and his ability to keep focus when changing between diverse characters showed not only his level of professionalism, but his commitment to his craft.
I would recommend Illuminati to many of my friends, but for acquaintances whose religious tolerance I am ignorant of, I would be cautious.
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