Jesus Christ, King of Comedy

Jesus Christ, King of Comedy (2008)

by Bryan Colley, Tara Varney, Michelle Cotton, and Young Han Lester

If you thought Mel Gibson's Passion was funny, wait until you see the one, the holy, Jesus Christ, King of Comedy. It's the hilarious rise and fall and rise again of one of the greatest entertainers who ever walked on water. Learn the true story behind the myth: Was he a man, messiah or meshuggah?

Starring:
George Forbes
Michelle Cotton
Susan Gennemeier
Charlotte Kyle
Nick Uthoff


REVIEWS:

Fringe Festival's 'Jesus Christ, King of Comedy' delivers wacky laughs
by Robert Trussell, The Kansas City Star

It just wouldn’t be a fringe festival without at least one show thumbing its nose at religion.

“Jesus Christ, King of Comedy” is every bit as irreverent as the title would have you believe and the production’s calculated lack of polish only enhances the humor. Seeing a blatantly artificial beard on a woman playing a man is always good for a laugh.

Director Tara Varney wrote this romp with Bryan Colley, Michelle Cotton and Young Han C. Lester, and the first half of the show is hilarious. It tends to run out of steam as it draws near the end of its 60-minute running time, but it still deserves attention for its wacky audacity.

The KC Fringe Festival show basically re-imagines the life of Jesus as it might have been had he embarked on the career of a comedian. Things get off to a very funny start as Mary (Susan Glennemeier) explains to Joseph (Nick Uthoff) that even though she’s a virgin she’s already pregnant.

George Forbes plays Jesus with a light touch and excellent timing. In this version of the tale Judas (Charlotte Kyle) is Jesus’ agent and the arc of the story follows the classic rise and fall of a star.

Making fun of religion is, of course, a popular sport and easy to do. This show has occasional explosions of inspired writing but too often fails to sustain the level of wit that makes the early going so engaging.

One of Varney’s inspired choices was her use of projected images taken from “The Brick Testament,” a Web site where you can find Bible stories illustrated with Legos, for transitions between scenes. You won’t believe it unless you see it, which you can by going to www.thebricktestament.com. You can also visit the show’s Web site at www.jupiterkansas.com.



The Best I've Seen All Day
by ajennings, KC Stage

Having had a very disappointing day, I was ready to see a show I would enjoy. This show not only was enjoyable, but had me clutching-my-sides-laughing!

This is not your typical Jesus story, although it does follow his life from birth to death. The scene transitions, which tell a lot of the basic storyline, are hilarious! I just want to know who found all the Legos?

The cast (George Forbes, Jesus; Susan Glennemeier, Mary; Nick Uthoff, Joseph; Charlotte Kyle, Judas; and Michelle Cotton, John the Baptist) is very versatile, with everyone except Jesus taking on many roles, all of which kept me laughing.

All in all, a wonderfully funny show!

(Nick Uthoff, Charlotte Kyle, Susan Glennemeier. Photo: Bryan Colley)

 (Susan Glennemeier, Charlotte Kyle, George Forbes, Nick Uthoff, Michelle Cotton. Photo: Bryan Colley)

 

(Nick Uthoff, George Forbes. Photo: Bryan Colley)

 

 

SCENE 1: MARY BREAKS THE NEWS

 

Joseph dances around the room humming “Here Comes the Bride” as he gets ready for the big night. Mary comes in wearing a sexy negligee.

 

JOSEPH

Wow! Look at you.

MARY

I’m nervous.

JOSEPH

Me too.

MARY

Our wedding night.

JOSEPH

Yes, and I’ve never... I’ve never...

MARY

Me either.

JOSEPH

No, of course not. That’s why I love you, Mary.

MARY

Really?

JOSEPH

Yes, because you are my beautiful, young, innocent, untouched, pristine, immaculate, pure and absolutely unsullied wife. I’m so glad I saved myself for this night.

MARY

Joseph, there’s something I have to tell you before we...

JOSEPH

Before we?

MARY

You know... before we Adam and Eve it.

JOSEPH

Of course. What is it?

MARY

I don’t know how to say it.

JOSEPH

Just blurt it out.

MARY

Promise you won’t get mad?

JOSEPH

How could I be mad at you? On our wedding night? Wearing that?

MARY

Okay. Here it goes... I’m pregnant.

JOSEPH

See, that wasn’t so bad.

MARY

No.

JOSEPH

Feel better?

MARY

Yes. You’re not mad?

JOSEPH

Not at all.

MARY

Oh Joseph, I’m so relieved.

JOSEPH

Nothing to worry about. Now, shall we... um...

MARY

Put the sheep in the stable?

JOSEPH

Yes, Mary!

He jumps on her, fumbling at her clothes, then thinks a moment.
 

JOSEPH

Just... tell me one thing.

MARY
Yes?

JOSEPH

What do you mean by... pregnant?

MARY

Well... you know... a baby.

JOSEPH
And by baby you mean?

MARY
I’m going to have one.

JOSEPH
As in... waa waa poop burp?

MARY
Yep.

JOSEPH

Glad you cleared the air right before we... um...

MARY
Baptize little John?

JOSEPH
Something like that.

MARY
I would have told you sooner, but it only just happened.

JOSEPH
What did?

MARY
The begatting.

JOSEPH
Of course it just happened. I mean... you’re not showing or anything.
 

MARY
Joseph, you’re taking this so well. That’s why I love you so much. Let’s do the uppy downy.

JOSEPH
Great idea, great idea, just... if you don’t mind me asking one little question.

MARY

What?

 

JOSEPH
Um... the baby... how?

 

MARY

It’s easy. You just help Moses find the promised land and let your people go--

 

JOSEPH

No... I get that. I mean where did this... this baby come from? I mean it’s not like I ever... you know...

 

MARY

Stormed the pearly gates?

 

JOSEPH

No, so I just wonder what... er, who?

 

MARY

Nobody! There’s nobody but you Joseph.

 

JOSEPH

I didn’t think so, really. I’m just... trying to sort out... so if there was nobody... how did this... begatting... how did it happen?

 

MARY

Well, it was... it was a... it was a miracle!

 

JOSEPH

A miracle! Of course it was. I mean, it had to be, didn’t it? Otherwise...

 

MARY

Yes, the other night an angel came to visit me.

 

JOSEPH

You said there was nobody?

 

MARY

He was just delivering a message from God.

 

JOSEPH

Don’t marry the loser Joseph?

 

MARY

He said to me, “Oh Mary, full of grace...”

 

JOSEPH

(aside) That’s not all you’re full of.

 

MARY

“Thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.”

JOSEPH

Named him already, huh?

MARY
“He shall be great, and shall fill the world with joy and laughter, and amaze the multitude with his sleight of hand, and tour the land with a fabulous show that sells out well in advance, with cross-marketing of icon emblazoned merchandise, for he shall be the son of God, lord of laughs, and king of comedy.”

JOSEPH
You expect me to believe that crap?

MARY
But it’s true, Joseph.

JOSEPH
I knew it was too good to be true. I knew it! This always happens to me. You’re so cute, and I’m... just a carpenter... a lousy, stinking carpenter.

MARY
Don’t blame yourself.

JOSEPH
How can I? I haven’t done anything yet. What makes you so sure he was an angel?

MARY
The divine light and wings of fire kind of tipped me off.