BAPTIZED TO THE BONE: A Dark Comedy

BAPTIZED TO THE BONE: A Dark Comedy by Dave Johnson, directed by Ben Randle. New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC), (Walker Theatre), 25 Van Ness Avenue near Market, San Francisco, California 94102. 415-861-8972 or www.nctcsf.org.Through May 3, 2009.

ARTISTIC ENDEAVOR IS EVERYWHERE

One would not expect to find a young college dropout, Ottis (sexy Paul Rodriguez) desiring to write the first ‘Gospel Poetry Opera’ or Gladys (appropriately shrill Amy Penny) the wife of a preacher with enough talent to be a successful abstract artist, in the small rural town of Sand Hills, North Carolina whose inhabitants are mostly turkey farmers. That is what two of the three characters wish for in Baptized to the Bone playing at the NCTC’s intimate Walker Theatre. To fit in with NCTC’s dedication to gay plays, the third character is a closeted Preacher (a fine performance by Colin Stuart). There are no last names.

With gospel music emanating from speakers, there is a furtive scene with a younger and older man passionately kissing. It seems that this passionate episode took place many years ago. With the characters also the stagehands, time passes as the drearily painted flats move into place signifying the home of Gladys and Preacher. Apparently to atone for his sin (many simple pleasures are sins to Baptists) the older man has given up his factory job to preach from the pulpit. We quickly learn that there is trouble in River City. Forty two year old Gladys desires to have a baby but Preacher is reluctant. Verbal confrontation ends with Gladys on her knees praying while gospel music is playing.

It is a Sunday and Gladys declines to attend church begging off because she has another headache. The headaches are a ruse allowing her to meet for a sexual liaison with Ottis. Horrors, Ottis is that young man seen kissing the older man. Ottis is a double-gaited hustler, ostensibly plying his trade to earn money that would allow him to move to New York where he can finally finish, or maybe just start to write his magnus opus. Gladys freely supplies Ottis with money. Act one ends with steamy sex about to be carried out on the sofa. (No nudity is this show. Pity)

The very devious Ottis has discovered the whereabouts of Preacher and he shows up to hustle (read blackmail) him. The flesh is weak and religion has not “cured” Preacher of his malady. Preacher is smitten and enticed into believing Ottis’s plaintive plea, that he needs money to get to New York to write the elusive “Gospel Poetry Opera.” The plot thickens as Ottis has to juggle his assignations and his clever machinations are foiled when Preacher returns early from a baptismal ceremony. Because of a drought, the water level in the baptismal river is too low for full immersion baptism. Gladys: “Why couldn’t you just sprinkle them with water.” Preacher: “We are not Methodists!” I guess that is the origin of the play’s title. Baptism for the Baptists requires “baptizing to the bone.”

In act one, the tenure of play has a semi-serious patina. In act two, the plot takes a bete noire Keystone cop twist and humor is rampant. You will not learn the ending here. As a hint, remember that Ottis is apparently bi-sexual and the closing gospel that they sing is, I think, “Amazing Grace.” Running time about 100 minutes with intermission.

Kedar K. Adour, MD

Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com