Coffee, Christ makes 'Last Days' shorter
Edgar Aroutiounian
Issue date: 11/1/06 Section: Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
"The Last Day's of Judas Iscariot" -- now playing in the Goddard Theater on the Daytona Campus -- focuses on the key aspect of Christian forgiveness and this theme is deeply woven in this very adult production.
Seating arrangements are designed to give the audience a round-about view of a courtroom of celestial proportions. The set is uncluttered and straightforward, clearly director David Peshek was trying to convey a message to the audience, rather than leaving audiences in awe of the set. Lighting plays a large part in this play, as it moves the audience from the Jerry Springer-like courtroom, to the various soliloquys of saints such as St. Thomas and St. Peter, and finally to the loneliness that is Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus of Nazareth. In the title roie is Tony Salame, who forces the audience to empathize through0 his body language .
Standing trial on an appeal. once again, is Iscariot, who is being vigorously defended by Fabian Cunningham, played by the voluptuous Megan Beachy, who simply won't take no as any answer from anyone. Iscariot, however, is no where to be seen in the courtroom. Instead, he is shown in his isolation, a tormented soul consumed by self-pity and perpetual guilt.
In the role of chief prosecutor Yusef El-Fayoumy is the humorous Zach Bennett. Overseeing this debacle of a trial is Judge Littlefield, played by the assertive Scott Harrell. The panel of witnesses is an all-star-showing, ranging from the tenderness of Mother Teresa, played by Natalia Plaza, to the Guido, mobster-like Satan, skillfully portrayed by Carlos Morales. Other strong witnesses include Paul Carbonell who plays Caiaphas, and Andy Gion, who plays the extremely sterotypical Italian tough guy Pontius Pilate.
The play tends to run a little on the long side because by the time the 15-minute intermission arrives, it is greatly welcomed by the audience and perhaps cast too.
"Next Case! Next Case! Next Case!" These words echo throughout the theater in the first 15 minutes as Judge Littlefield unsuccessfully tries to dismiss Fabiana Cunningham through his bailiff and legal bureaucracy. The first portion of the two and a half hour production undoubtedly belongs to Bennett, as the comic and ill-prepared, probably uncredentialed lawyer El-Fayoumy. El-Fayoumy works to loosen the tension formed by the serious Cunningham, who is constantly at odds with Judge Littlefield, and ultimately herself. As the audience enters the second half of the show a power shift is felt that is biased towards Cunningham.
"The Last Days of Judas Iscariot" is the best production DBCC has offered in a long time. The play is powerful, thought-provoking and once again questions the extent of the forgiveness that God bestows upon us. Defintely watch this play, it's one that you will not forget. Just be sure to drink some coffee beforehand.
The play is "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot" and it continues 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2-4. at the J.M. Goddard Theater. Admission is complimentary for DBCC students who have an I.D. For everyone else it's $5. Advanced tickets are on sale a the Theater Center box office, Building 220 or at the door on the night's of performances.
Seating arrangements are designed to give the audience a round-about view of a courtroom of celestial proportions. The set is uncluttered and straightforward, clearly director David Peshek was trying to convey a message to the audience, rather than leaving audiences in awe of the set. Lighting plays a large part in this play, as it moves the audience from the Jerry Springer-like courtroom, to the various soliloquys of saints such as St. Thomas and St. Peter, and finally to the loneliness that is Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus of Nazareth. In the title roie is Tony Salame, who forces the audience to empathize through0 his body language .
Standing trial on an appeal. once again, is Iscariot, who is being vigorously defended by Fabian Cunningham, played by the voluptuous Megan Beachy, who simply won't take no as any answer from anyone. Iscariot, however, is no where to be seen in the courtroom. Instead, he is shown in his isolation, a tormented soul consumed by self-pity and perpetual guilt.
In the role of chief prosecutor Yusef El-Fayoumy is the humorous Zach Bennett. Overseeing this debacle of a trial is Judge Littlefield, played by the assertive Scott Harrell. The panel of witnesses is an all-star-showing, ranging from the tenderness of Mother Teresa, played by Natalia Plaza, to the Guido, mobster-like Satan, skillfully portrayed by Carlos Morales. Other strong witnesses include Paul Carbonell who plays Caiaphas, and Andy Gion, who plays the extremely sterotypical Italian tough guy Pontius Pilate.
The play tends to run a little on the long side because by the time the 15-minute intermission arrives, it is greatly welcomed by the audience and perhaps cast too.
"Next Case! Next Case! Next Case!" These words echo throughout the theater in the first 15 minutes as Judge Littlefield unsuccessfully tries to dismiss Fabiana Cunningham through his bailiff and legal bureaucracy. The first portion of the two and a half hour production undoubtedly belongs to Bennett, as the comic and ill-prepared, probably uncredentialed lawyer El-Fayoumy. El-Fayoumy works to loosen the tension formed by the serious Cunningham, who is constantly at odds with Judge Littlefield, and ultimately herself. As the audience enters the second half of the show a power shift is felt that is biased towards Cunningham.
"The Last Days of Judas Iscariot" is the best production DBCC has offered in a long time. The play is powerful, thought-provoking and once again questions the extent of the forgiveness that God bestows upon us. Defintely watch this play, it's one that you will not forget. Just be sure to drink some coffee beforehand.
The play is "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot" and it continues 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2-4. at the J.M. Goddard Theater. Admission is complimentary for DBCC students who have an I.D. For everyone else it's $5. Advanced tickets are on sale a the Theater Center box office, Building 220 or at the door on the night's of performances.
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