Don't Miss A Post-Performance Discussion With Fred Edwords! | November 23
Fred Edwords, a nationally known advocate of humanism and atheism, will participate in a post-performance discussion on Friday, November 23. Don't miss out on this opportunity, order your tickets here.
Discount Tickets
A limited number of $7 seats are available @ www.goldstar.com/events/washington-dc/atheists-paradise.
The Play
“Atheist’s Paradise” is unconventional, with passages in expressionistic style. The plot involves aging yet rebellious “Doc” Johnson. He’s a professor of philosophy and football coach at a conservative Midwestern college. Equally vital to developments is frightened, submissive freshwoman Sheila Lancaster. Sheila is assigned to interview Doc as her first exercise in introductory journalism. He immediately finds her “desperately in need of an identity crisis” and decides to give her one. Her transition starts with taking his strange course in introductory philosophy. Doc claims it will make her a new person by shattering her beliefs.
At the same time, new college President Jim Thompson decides that Doc must have a new identity. Doc must become acceptable to the college’s pool of donors. For one thing, Doc must attend church, so God can be on the side of the school’s football team.
Also vital to the plot is shattered, macho freshman Bob. He didn’t make the team, has self-inflicted cuts on his wrists, and, like Sheila, is counseled by Doc.
On another plane of existence, a mysterious Judge and his Clerk prepare a trial of Doc on charges of impiety, corrupting the youth, and more. “Atheist’s Paradise” has roots as far back as the pre-Socratic Greek and Eleatic cultures yet entails some of the societal fights of today.