Divine comedy It’s a widely held belief that nothing is sacred in the
world of comedy. Allan Radcliffe wonders just how careful you have to be when poking fun at religion.
14 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 3—10 Aug 2006
hen the Religious Hatred Bill was
making its tortuous passage throttgh
the (ominous earlier this year. writers and artists were assured that their ability to talk about religion would not be restricted. .-\s if to test these t‘easstlt‘attccs. this year's liringe features an unprecedented volume of show s with an ecclesiastical flavour. A cursory llick through the programme reveals such eye—catching titles as ./¢'\H\.' I‘ltc (immrunumo i’curs. . . (recon/me In Jesus, Pentecostal ll’istmtvin and .‘i [frilly/i (inn/c to World Religions. liven the more established liestival turns are getting in on the Jesus act. ('anadian favourite (ilenn \Vool keeps the faith with the pithily titled You Don‘t (lo to Hell for Eating Elephants in which he ponders why heaven and hell aren‘t denotninational. while bespectacled telly star Sue l’crkins‘ show features material about her (‘atholic upbringing and convent school education. .-\nd the heavens will open their arms once again when Reverend ()badiah Steppenwolfe lll preaches to the converted in What Would (‘harlie Sheen Do'.’
It goes without saying that no subject should be above satire. But in a climate that has seen mass riots across the Middle l'.;tsl following the publication of Danish cartoons depicting Mohamrned as a terrorist. and threats of abduction and murder by enraged members of the Sikh community driving playwright (inrpreet Kaur Bhatti into hiding. is this really the most sensitive time in which to have a laugh at belief systems'.’
Ryan l’aulson. the performer behind the award-winning Pentecostal Wisconsin was raised in the Pentecostal faith (which he describes as ‘people speaking in tongues) and once seriously considered becoming a pastor. He believes comedy and religion can sit comfortably side by side. ‘1 atn not a believer anymore. but l have had many practising (‘hristians come to my shows and really love it.‘ he says. ‘lt seems to me that if you are secure in your faith you feel okay about laughing at it. lf.lesus is all some people claim he is. l‘m sure he can take it.‘
lnevitably. l’ringe comedy acts with a religious bent tend to fall into two camps: those which exploit religious mores for the sake of cheap controversy. and a select few who bring a deeper satirical purpose to their comedy. Abie Philbin Bowman. writer and performer of Jesus: The Guantanamo Years which casts Christ as a stand-up comedian. reckons the real issue is not so much the tension between religion and comedy. but the fact that no major religion encourages laughter. Exposing the pomposity of organised religion is central to his show.
‘Laughter is the ultimate celebration of creation. yet not a single major religion encourages it: why? lt‘s becatise comedy encourages us to think critically and laugh at those in authority. For the record. Jesus. Moharnmed and Buddha were big believers in thinking independently. But the religions they founded became the authorities. Their original message of critical thinking was abandoned. just as the Vatican abandons Christ's teachings about poverty. Otherwise it would have to give all its money to the poor.'
Certainly. making serious points about the hypocrisies and injustices of organised religion are to be encouraged. But are these shows funny or simply an onslaught of cheap shots against an all-too-easy target (you'll recall Aaron Barschak. the self-styled ‘comedy terrorist‘ who bombed at the Fringe two years ago for being about as amusing as piles). ls it actually more difficult to be comical around a