We are DROWNING, my children, DROWNING in a sea of identical details!" Mickey Mouse, Consumer Narcosis and the Internet are not the usual fare for preachers, but "The Church of Billy" is no ordinary house of worship. Solo Performer Bill Talen bring his latest incarnation of his Reverend Billy character to The Fringe Festival at Collective Unconscious, Aug. 19 28.
The Reverend Billy's preachings include such messages as "We believe in a God that people who don't believe in God believe in," as well as his infamous, "Mickey Mouse is the Anti-Christ," which was developed while preaching the summer away in Times Square across from the Disney Store.
In previous productions, The Reverend held a sermon during act one, while bringing audience members to Times Square's Disney Store for an act two "shopping spree." (Rev. Billy took on the Disneyfication of midtown in his 1998 NYC gig, I Was a Tourist in the New Times Square, at HERE.)
Talen's preacher gained a cult following through a public access television show, eventually leading to a Web radio show ( The Church of Billy's Website) and live performances. Web surfers are urged to e-mail their own private "Godsightings" and personal theologies to the Reverend at his website.
For more information, call (212) 420-8877 or (888) FringeNYC or check out the fringe website at www.fringenyc.org.
-- By Sean McGrath