Stephen Adly Guirgis

made me want to kms. five stars. i read this purely on a whim and i'm so happy that i did. such an interesting and deeply fun idea for a play -- put judas iscariot on trial and make every supernatural being in attendance talk like a new yorker u kidnapped on their way out of a bodega.

in all seriousness, this play gives us judas iscariot and asks us a theological question: does judas deserve it? he rots in the deepest circle of hell, and he'll continue to for eternity. his betrayal was essential. god and his heavenly hosts and the whole world needed it to happen, or there never would've been a story. but can we say that's fate? can we say it was him? is it fair? we turn over these questions over and over as an audience, trying to understand what led judas to do what he did. what is it abt this crime that makes it unforgivable? we wait for it. but then the play says no, that's irrelevant. it doesn't matter whether WE think he deserves it or not. what matters is that HE thinks he does. he wallows in his guilt and self-hatred, is catatonic with his grief. his hate is so strong that jesus can whisper forgiveness in his ear or shout it from the rooftops and it won't matter, judas won't hear a word of it. "why didn't u make me good enough so you could've loved me" becomes "if you'd loved me, i never would've been the person capable of doing what i did."

heaven and hell -- salvation and damnation -- are states of mind. nothing but u is capable of clouding god's love for u. "if god came to you, would you believe in him then?" means if god told u u were worthy, would you believe him? and the answer is no. ur guilt and disappointment has taught u helplessness, like those animals that stay in their cages even when the door is opened. to love god u have to first forgive urself.… (meer)

This audiobook is a full-cast recording of a theatrical performance of the play "Between Riverside and Crazy". Produced by the L.A. Theatre Works, the show was performed at UCLA's James Bridges Theater in November 2017.

The Pulitzer Prize winner for drama in 2015, "Between Riverside and Crazy" is a story about a black, former NYC policeman on a disability pension, living in a rent-controlled apartment with his ex-felon son, his son's friend and girlfriend. Washington is a recent widower, facing eviction from his apartment, trying to help his son, and suing the City for a settlement after being wrongfully shot by a rookie white policeman. Despite these problems, he manages to find his way, all the while maintains his spirits and dignity, and brings humor to the situation, making for an enjoyable story.

… (meer)