One-man play in Santa Monica

After hearing Leonard Jacobson interviewed a couple of times on KPFK, and before I went to see his one-man play in Santa Monica, I set in mind a few criteria by which to measure his presentation. The play is called, "The True Passion of Christ." This title, and knowing from the interviews that he was playing the character of JC commenting on what he did and did not say two millennia ago, perked up my ears. Either he may have an enlightened point of view and be worth meeting, or he was just another preacher. I'd spend the $25 on admission and have a look-see.

  1. No big cross.

    That was my first criterion. If I walked in to take a seat, and there was a big, life-size wooden cross on the stage, I would turn around and leave right away. There wasn't. Leonard Jacobson's stage was set with a simple cane chair, spotlighted on an otherwise darkened stage, between two vases of beautiful flowers on wrought-iron stands. That the stage was at "ground-level" with the first row of audience was encouraging.

  2. No robes.

    Again, if this guy were to come out on the stage dressed in flowing robes, that was it, too silly, sorry, bye. He was dressed casually, in attire most anybody in Santa Monica would wear.

  3. The next ones were more subtle. First, I would expect him to portray JC correcting a specific, big misconception: that JC did not say, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." If JC had made any comment like that, he probably said, "The 'I am' is the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through the 'I am'."

    On this one, Leonard (he was nice and friendly, and I felt like addressing him by first name when making a comment to him later) scored a direct hit, in my book. That comment was not only included in, but was central to, his play. He elaborated, saying, in character, "How could you think I would say that? I would never try to come between you and the Father. It is in fact my most heartfelt passion that you awaken to the presence of the Father, directly!" -- or words to that effect. Good.

  4. Raising the dead.

    That was the other point I had in mind to hear LJ out on. I figured if he were a good teacher he would refer to JC's ability to lead one to awakening to the presence of the Being in the present; he would connect the idea to JC's saying, "let the dead bury their dead. "Dead" in this sense would be someone all but un-awakenable, and "raising the dead" meant successfully pointing such a "difficult" a person to his/her own awakening. Leonard did bring these exact points out clearly and in focus.

  5. So I left Santa Monica that evening knowing that dear Leonard was indeed worth listening to very carefully.




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