That is, unless they're curious what monologuist Mike Daisey thinks about Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. Hubbard is one of four men Daisey will examine in his latest work, Great Men of Genius, which will play for four consecutive Fridays beginning May 5.
"Genius" is apparently a relative term in Daisey's world, as it is bestowed on Hubbard, a science fiction author who transformed himself into the guru of his own faith, the Church of Scientology, which is notorious for its secretive ways, legal wranglings and celebrity membership. Another of Daisey's geniuses is P.T. Barnum, the showman and master of publicity and hokum. More conventional genius types include Nikola Tesla, the Serbian-American scientist and inventor who came up with the alternated current electrical power, was a rival of Edison and died penniless and mad; and Bertolt Brecht, the trailblazing German dramatist who hatched the idea of Epic Theatre and authored many classic plays.
Jean-Michele Gregory directs. All shows are at 8 PM. The schedule runs as so:
Friday, May 5—Bertolt Brecht
Friday, May 12—P.T. Barnum
Friday, May 19—Nikola Tesla
Friday, May 26—L. Ron Hubbard
Mike Daisey is best known for his piece, 21 Dog Years, in which he tore down his one-time employer, Amazon.com. Tickets are $10 in advance / $12 at the door (cash only at door). Advance tickets can be purchased through SmartTix at (212) 868-4444 or www.smarttix.com. Galapagos Art Space is located at 70 North 6th Street, Williamsburg.
