Gothamist: Hell House

David Harmon

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 14:38:47 -0500

Ouch. Sorry about the triplicate, I had trouble with my scripting settings. That live preview is kind of cool, but my browser defaults to no scripting for security reasons, and it seems you've got scripts from two different hosts.

ethos

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 13:29:00 -0500

The part I'm having trouble with is "we’re not Christian Evangelicals and yet our show is expressing Christian Evangelical beliefs." Are they going to provide any sort of counter-argument to their performance, or take issue with the claims that abortion and homosexuality are evil? I didn't get from the interview that they would provide any counter-balance. So for this guy to claim that he doesn't agree with the premise of the show he's about to perform, and perform it anyway without any context, seems a little disingenuous to me.

David Harmon

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 10:57:43 -0500

So, of course they're highlighting the part about forgiving the adulteress? Or how about the bit about paying taxes? Or, I know, it's a haunted house... about about where the Zombie Jesus rises from the grave and flaunts his wounds? The whole idea is simply to break down their viewers' resistance with shocking images, setting them up for the big pitch: "Hey kid, be a shame if any of that happened to you wouldn't it? Well, our man Jejus, he can make sure it doesn't, know what I mean?"

David Harmon

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 10:55:42 -0500

David Harmon

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 10:54:41 -0500

mdowning

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 08:22:22 -0500

wtf? wtf? wtf? why didn't they cast mel gibson as jesus--i mean, he is jesus, and he's available. what short-sightedness. but seriously, wtf?

Toby

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 01:04:42 -0500

The only truly scary thing here is the Evangelical "Christians".

Renaissance

Mon, 02 Oct 2006 22:11:07 -0500

Sounds like it'll be an exciting show, and for the non-religious, a real fright-fest. Pastor Keenan and his ilk are breeding committed Christians everywhere they can. I am guessing most of St. Ann's theatergoers would be flabbergasted to know that a recent survey said 70 million Americans call themselves Evangelicals. The chief motivator for believers is fear--as Hell House (if I've read prior descriptions correctly) will no doubt show.

LM

Mon, 02 Oct 2006 21:54:06 -0500

nice interview John!

Samantha T

Mon, 02 Oct 2006 18:58:59 -0500

I thought that was a terrific documentary - provocative, but totally respectful of its subjects. While I'm not an enormous fan of the Christian Right, I'm also pretty confident I wouldn't be a fan of anything that brings "Iowa to Brooklyn." I can't even imagine the condescension in that audience.