A reading at NYCPlaywrights June 25, 2008

Cast

Ann Farthing
Nick Fondulis*
Wayne Henry
Lori Kee*
Mike Selkirk
Phoebe Summersquash
Reagan Wilson

*member AEA

Personal Jesus

Mellow Jesus and Angry Jesus answer prayers - that are mutually exclusive. Only the power of a Zen koan can help them now..

* Trixie - Phoebe
* Betty - Lori
* Clara - Reagan
* Angry Jesus - Nick
* Mellow Jesus - Wayne
* Buddha - Mike
* stage directions - Ann

Watch the Quicktime excerpt

We also did this one for the Spring 2006 NYCPlaywrights fundraiser.
Watch that version here.

I don't think audiences realize that the koan that Buddha tells, based on this real koan, actually does impart a relevant lesson about the incompatible Jesuses: be more ecumenical.

This koan is called 'A Time to Die' but I like to call it 'the Dennis the Menace koan':

Ikkyu, the Zen master, was very clever even as a boy. His teacher had a precious teacup, a rare antique. Ikkyu happened to break this cup and was greatly perplexed. Hearing the footsteps of his teacher, he held the pieces of the cup behind him. When the master appeared, Ikkyu asked: "Why do people have to die?"

"This is natural," explained the older man. "Everything has to die and has just so long to live."

Ikkyu, producing the shattered cup, added: "It was time for your cup to die."