Wacky Theater Piece Examines Rapture

National Public Radio features many thought-provoking pieces on its Science Friday show, but I was surprised to hear an interview last week with a playwright about her play called End Days.

The play, which closed in New York on Saturday, had a single actor playing physicist Stephen Hawking as a savior to the daughter and as Jesus to Jewish mother who is a converted evangelical Christian. The mother character is also convinced that the Rapture is imminent. To add to the zaniness of the conversation, an Elvis impersonator who lives next door is attracted to the daughter.

Any time the topic of religion is discussed in art, I prick up my ears, though I suspect the writer was more interested in mocking evangelicals than actually considering their perspectives. However, if the play ever comes to Arizona, I would definitely check it out. You can download the podcast by going here.