Big Gay Jesus The Third Coming with Arthur Davis III at the Orlando International Fringe Festival promised, a sparkle soaked comedy cabaret packed with psychic readings, fashion healing, dance breaks and divine absurdity. It was to be a hilarious heart opening spectacle of self-salvation.
I didn’t feel any salvation. What I did witness was a very handsome man with long hair doing multiple costume changes. Jesus did display his dexterity with some very high kicks but any choreography wasn’t to be found.
Several audience members were brought on stage and Jesus did attempt some psychic readings by asking them leading questions in which the answer would be obvious but presented as a mysterious discovery. Jesus did have a sense of humor.
Jesus looked much like Fabio only without holding a sweaty damsel in distress. The mantra behind his religion was that sinning is winning, clapping is mandatory and giving to his Venmo account is divine.
The show was a random mash up of ideas that managed to tie together. When Jesus waxed poetic about his trip to burning man, I was carried away with his story telling but the audience interactions felt forced. Who am I to judge how Jesus might interact with everyday humans. The bottom line is that Jesus is a fine specimen of a man to look upon, amen.
Big Gay Jesus won a coveted Patron’s Pick award, which earned the highly acclaimed, sell-out production an additional performance slot at the festival.