Review: Come Heckle Christ

The Tuxedo Cat @ Raj House, Thursday, February 27

There’s always one. Fringe 2014’s most oh-so-‘controversial’ offering is, without a doubt, Come Heckle Christ, which at one point was set to be just a ‘normal’ show. But then the frenzied publicity began, with Christian groups, Family First and all the usual suspects freaking out, furious letters to the papers and fears of violence – despite the little fact that no one had seen it or had any real idea what it was about. But why should that stop them? The holy fun began as we approached the Tuxedo Cat, with a loud voice revealed as Caleb Corneloup and his band of not-so-merry preachers. CC was shouting about old-school blasphemy and all that jazz, and, of course, there were TV cameras, ticket holders and curious bystanders watching (and a passing mob of drunks who yelled right back at CC’s boys and were duly asked for a comment). Police and yellow-coated security guards were out in force, and it looked like something ungodly might indeed happen. But the protestors remained non-physical, and soon the large crowd (how couldn’t it be with the damn publicity?) was led down the street, past a silent candlelight vigil of different protestors and into the venue, where Jesus/Josh was waiting on the stage, and on the cross, as everyone took their seats (and some were forced to stand). Then the actual show began. Jesus thanked us for coming and, braving the shouters, asked us to heckle Him (or question Him, although Come Question Jesus doesn’t have quite the same ring) – and the group did just that, although in a surprisingly funny, sometimes-pointed but non-aggressive fashion, as the audience became part of the performance and punters were laughing uproariously at their own jokes. There were practical queries (me: “When is Judgment Day?”; Jesus: “Tomorrow!”); rolling-in-the-aisles stuff (“Is it a bummer that your birthday is on Christmas Day and you only get one bunch of presents?”, which made Jesus smile); bizarre WTFs (“Jesus, why am I a gay, left-handed ranga?”, a question he said he’d pose to his Dad); and hot religious-fervour topics, including gay marriage, church sexual abuse, whether Jesus could please give Tony Abbott leprosy, if He’s a Pantera fan (?), and which NCIS He prefers. And yes, Muhammad was mentioned! Gasp! Jesus’ arms were getting sore, and after an hour he left the stage to great applause (and a football-hooligan-like “JE-SUS, JE-SUS, JE-SUS!”), before returning, cross-free, to thank the audience for coming and being open-minded enough to actually see what his show was about, and to ask us all to leave in peace and love each other. Wow! What a novel idea! You know, that’s so crazy it just might work… Rating: **** Come Heckle Christ continues at The Tuxedo Cat on Thursday, March 6 and Thursday, March 13. Come armed with your best ‘heckles’, a lack of preconceived ideas and a Bible or two for the after-show signing session (just kidding). * This review also appears on Rip It Up