Sterling Brewer and Kelly Holden in the premiere production |
THE THREE TEMPTATIONS OF JENNIFER PIERCE (aka "3TOJP") has been ruffling feathers since its first tentative production in the mid-1990s. The energetic and light-hearted script aims to entertain while raising profound questions about a touchy subject: contemporary Christian evangelism. The result is that there's something in 3TOJP to offend just about anybody who is prone to taking offense.
Brief synopsis
Smart-alecky loner Jennifer Pierce makes a wager with her annoyingly square housemate Cindy, a challenge that Jennifer takes only to escape paying several months of rent she already owes to Cindy. The bet involves Jennifer sequestering herself in her apartment and waiting for God's "still small voice" to make itself heard. But instead of being alone for three days, Jennifer finds herself the focus of nationwide media attention when she apparently starts to undergo the exact temptations presented to Jesus during his forty days in the wilderness. The result is a clash between evidence and faith, prejudice and acceptance, and pride and humility.
Mixed Reactions
Staged readings of various versions of the script have been greeted with laughter from audience members large and small, young and old, secular and ecclesiastic. And Charlene Brown, dramaturg for the 2004 Kennedy Center Playwriting Intensive, said, "This is one of the funniest things I've read in years, and I read a lot of scripts." She also noted some problems with the script which have since been corrected, and the revised version was well-received in a reading at Marshall Univeristy -- and yet -- a full production of the new 3TOJP has yet to be mounted. Who will be the first to take on the challenge? It's been described as the perfect play for a theatre with talented young actors and limited resources -- because it has four challenging roles, a lot of big ideas, and one simple set. The healthy mixture of comedy and tragedy only adds to the play's appeal. |
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(Jenny has been handcuffed to her own bed to keep her from leaving her room)
STEINKOPF
You seem to have difficulty overcoming your resistance to the love of Jesus Christ. So it is our sacred task to overcome that resistance for you -- by physical force if necessary.
JENNY
Man, there's gotta be some way to rid of you guys. I wish I could spit poison like a camel.
CINDY
Camels do not spit poison.
JENNY
They do.
CINDY
Jennifer. I am a kindergarten teacher. I have to know everything about exotic animals. Camels do not spit poison.
JENNY
They do.
CINDY
So you're an expert on camels.
JENNY
I am an expert on poison spit.
DIMMSDALE
Miss Pierce! this matter is no longer a simple wager between you and Cynthia. It has escalated to a matter of importance to hundreds of believers and is spreading further even now! You now have an obligation to your country!
JENNY
Woah -- I was almost with you there, and then you said "country" --
STEINKOPF
Surely you understand that, whether or not you are worthy of such an honor, you have been placed in the position of becoming an example to patriotic Americans everywhere.
JENNY
Getting handcuffed by whackos is patriotic?
DIMMSDALE
You know perfectly well there has never been a time in history when it was more important to prove to the world that God has chosen America as His special favorite among all nations.
STEINKOPF
And if for some reason God truly has singled you out, it is your patriotic duty to exemplify the ideals set forward by our Pilgrim Forefathers.
JENNY
Well, that's the best news I've heard all day, because our Pilgrim Forefathers came to this continent to get away from RELIGIOUS CONSERVATIVES LIKE YOU!
STEINKOPF
Rubbish!
DIMMSDALE
Someone here needs a refresher course in world history.
JENNY
Boy, you got that right.
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