David Travis directs the play by Richard Bean, presented by Synapse Productions. Following previews Feb. 24-25, opening is Feb. 26 at intimate Theater B in the Off-Broadway complex on East 59th Street.
According to production notes, "Somewhere in the developing world lies Tambia, a part-Christian, part-Muslim country where water is scarce, AK-47s are plentiful, the lions are hungry and the locals want email. Laura is a young, ambitious American aid worker on her first assignment. Keith, her supervisor, is a world-weary malcontent just trying to get through the day. Sparks fly when Laura shows up three weeks late, ready to bend the rules to save the world. She soon finds that home seems very far away when the locals steal your magazines, your bodyguard makes passes at you, and your boyfriend dumps you — to return to his three wives..."
The work is billed as an irreverent and provocative "no-holds-barred comedy that gleefully skewers our preconceptions about religion, globalization and the sources of poverty and violence in the developing world."
The God Botherers was produced in London in 2003 to critical acclaim. The U.S. cast is Heidi Armbruster, Michael Warner, Kola Ogundiran and Tinashe Kajese.
The design team is Jenny Mannis (costumes), Adrian W. Jones (scenic) and Marcus Doshi (lighting). Director David Travis previously staged Animal Farm: The Puppet Musical for Synapse Productions. Performances are Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8:15 PM, and Saturdays and Sundays at 3:15 PM. There is no matinee Feb. 26.
Tickets are $15 for previews (Feb. 24-25), and $30 thereafter. Two for one tickets are available on Tuesdays through March 15. Tickets may be purchased by calling TicketCentral at (212) 279-4200, or online at www.synapseproductions.org.