Once you are caught up in Stephen Adly Guirgis’ sprawling courtroom drama, you may kick yourself for not seeing it sooner. Most of the 15-member cast has returned for the remount of summer’s successful run, and they approach the roles with commitment and startling originality.
The 2005 drama about divine - and human - forgiveness takes place in a courtroom in Purgatory, where the overworked Judge Littlefield (Brian Hemmingsen) has just thrown out a case pending for Benedict Arnold and is surprised when the Bailiff (Cesar A. Guadamuz) announces that “God and the Kingdom of Heaven vs. Judas Iscariot” is next on the docket. A feisty lawyer with a tortured past named Cunningham (Julie Garner) has taken on the ultimate scapegoat Judas (a desolate Jason McCool), who was reportedly Jesus’ favorite but betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver and then hanged himself from an olive tree.
Cunningham defends Judas on the grounds that he is guilty of “the sin of despair” and questions the logic of worshipping a vengeful, unyielding God who tells people to be compassionate and loving but cannot forgive Judas for what he did. She calls to the witness stand Mother Teresa (Heather Haney), Sigmund Freud (Jesse Terrill), Caiaphas the Elder (Mr. Hemmingsen, in a dual role), Pontius Pilate (Frank Britton), a handful of saints (Mr. Guadamuz, Rex Daugherty, and Mr. Terrill) and Satan himself - called “Lou” here and played with satiny, insinuating menace by Jim Jorgensen.
As for Judas, he doesn’t seem to care much whether he’s at the gates of St. Peter or those further south. He’s nearly catatonic, numbed by centuries of vilification and guilt and still bewildered that his most beloved friend, Jesus (Patrick Bussink), did not rescue him from this hellish fate. Judas, like everyone else, is seeking grace.
The cast is on fire throughout, showing remarkable dedication even when seated in chairs at the edge of the stage for long periods of time.
“The Last Days” features dizzying, bountiful dialogue that is characteristic of Mr. Guirgis’ plays, which meld street slang, rapturous poetry, rude comedy and literary references to Thomas Merton and W.H. Auden in a unique, thrilling way. Director John Vreeke is a master at restraining and astutely illuminating verbose plays, and this is perhaps his most satisfying effort, a production that probes the intellect, prickles the conscience and ignites the soul.
****
WHAT: “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot” by Stephen Adly Guirgis
WHERE: Forum Theatre at the H Street Playhouse, 1365 H St. NE
WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Dec. 21.
TICKETS: $18 to $20
PHONE: 202/489-1701
WEB SITE: www.forumtheatredc.org
MAXIMUM RATING: FOUR STARS
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