Dang, I wished I lived closer to the Tampa area. It looks an interesting little play is going to cause a big stir there.
TAMPA – What are the two subjects you don’t discuss at the dinner table in America?
Religion and politics, of course.
And that’s just what playwright-director James Phillips delves into in his new play, “Bobby and the Chimps,” opening next week at the University of South Florida. The story, set in 2008 in Bethlehem, Pa., revolves around a man running for the school board. There’s a lot of infighting within his campaign team over the debate about whether to teach evolution or creationism in the classroom.
Why would Phillips attempt such potential folly? Because Phillips is from England, where the meshing of these two combustible subjects rarely causes a stir.
“It just wouldn’t be an issue back home,” he acknowledges. “This is really an American story.”
If anyone is in the area and attends this play, please consider reporting back here to us about how it went. Heck, just the signs advertising the play are drawing fire!
It’s already caused a bit of a stir on campus. A display at the entrance of the campus library promoting the upcoming play and its controversial theme has triggered a few complaints. Richards’ phone number is now posted nearby, so he can assure the offended callers that both sides of the issue are represented in the production.
Yeah, I read about this in the paper yesterday. Apparently the “liberal” ends up believing in God by the end of the play’s trial. So now I’m not certain if this should be classified as a “fantasy”, “comedy”, or “tragedy”. 😛
I plan to attend tonight. Even a student or two might come see it.
How was it? Thinking of going..