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It’s a world after plague where law and life are based on
a strict and literal interpretation of the Bible.
“The Perverse Tongue” is a futuristic Jacobean revenge
tragedy, set in a post-apocalyptic America ruled by the Soldiers
of God.
The production:
Written and produced by George Larkin, “The Perverse Tongue”
had a successful six week run at the Met theatre in the November
and December 2002. They even compared him to Orwell and Bradbury!
The reviews:
LOS ANGELES LOYOLAN
“Thought provoking play details dark version of the future
with religious extremism.”
“The plot, in all its turmoil and ethical inquiries, continues
to roller coaster among love triangles, fist-fights and good-versus-evil
obstacles. The story is, needless to say, completely intriguing
and touching, yet sustains a sense of uneasiness with the audience.
As farfetched as it seems, this extreme scenario seems all too
possible.
Biblical text is used throughout the play, informing the audience
that the playwright is not just opinionated but educated on the
topic. The story line twists and turns, keeping the audience on
the edge of their seats as they are faced with constant surprise
rather than predictability. No character is quite what they seem
as their facades are removed and the audience is able to observe
the true colors of each character.
The Perverse Tongue is an excellent precursor of a lengthy conversation
as well as a great topic for debate. The play is a warning to
be careful who power is delegated to, as society can be easily
swayed by good politicians rather than ideas. It warns of of the
risks of interpreting a piece of writing literally -- in this
case, the Bible. It's dangerous territory, as Larkin warns to
be cautious upon viewing his play.
Of course, none of these messages could not have been conveyed
if not for the admirable realism of the actors -- especially Maria
Cina as Rebekah and Greg Good as Paul. They transported the story
along its course with meticulous attention to detail and with
the execution of true artists.”
THE PLAY REVIEW
“In the past few weeks there have been several reviews here
that deal with the ominous future and the possible change of human
values. From Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 to George Orwell's
Animal Farm, we see repression, totalitarianism and power hungry
regimes that feed on their own corruption. Now we have The Perverse
Tongue, about as imaginative and thought provoking as they come.
George Larkin has come up with a premise in this compelling drama
that is at once chilling and plausible.
As many stories of this genre seem to do, this one is set in
the not too distant future after a calamitous event that has transformed
the world. The regular government has been destroyed and the ones
in charge now are the religious zealots who use the word of the
Bible to guide their laws and their actions.
What's wrong with that, you ask? Living by the Word surely must
bring harmony and respect to all? Yeah, right! Insisting on a
strict biblical interpretation causes problems here since the
decisions are based not on the word, but on who is doing the interpreting.
Like everything else, those in power have now become as perverse
as those before them, except that now they do it with the word
of God as their weapon. As with most situations, the burning issue
is not one of life or death, moral right or wrong, ethics or crime.
It's sex. But most people who read the bible argue that it is
filled with sexual references anyway, so that's no big surprise.
When issues of sex come up, they are closely paralleled with women's
issues, for somehow society seems to equate sexual depravation
with women.
Thus, if one follows the bible (Deuteronomy xx-xx) if a woman
is raped, she is put to death along with the rapist. That's like
saying "if you steal candy, you and the grocer get your finger
chopped off!" If a woman is betrothed and she is raped, then
she must marry the rapist and can never be separated from him.
Talk about loving your enemy! You get the picture.
This story takes some of the more convoluted Biblical quotations
and builds a tense situation around two sisters, who face a similar
sexual dilemma. The younger one is about to be married, but when
forced to a premarital Virginity Check from the authorities her
deep secret is discovered. They face trial, and come close to
receiving capital punishment, but for an unusual turn of events
and the aid of a stranger, who turns out to be a priest and who
formulates a plan to free them.
The bride-to-be despairs at the trial and curses God, so besides
the sexual charges, she now must have her tongue cut off according
to the bible in Proverbs 10:31. To add to the problem, Larkin
introduces a homosexual male couple, in a thinly veiled a Cain
and Abel metaphor that underscores the perversity of the regime
far more than the forbidden actions of the men...”
“Larkin's story is so gripping and uniquely presented that
it's definitely worth a look, especially since the US has recently
had preacher politicians running for President. If they had won,
would we eventually have the situation that George Larkin describes?
Many would argue that it could never be, and the electorate would
be too sophisticated to let it happen.
But then again, twenty five years ago they also said that there
was no way an actor could ever become President!”
ENTERTAINMENT TODAY
“What makes Larkin’s story compelling is it’s
plausibility. Having experienced a presidential election where
an ultra-right religious candidate upset at least one state count,
the specter is too close for comfort. As with most ultra- conservative
issues, the biggest preoccupation in this tale is sex. The laws
governing female virginity, chastity, rape and marriage are straight
out of the Old Testament and usually make the woman the guilty
one, regardless of the circumstances. The title refers to any
blasphemer whose perverse tongue will be cut off!
Larkin shows two sisters trying to remake their difficult past,
and when the younger sister is about to marry, a government inspector
comes to perform a “Virginity Check” on her wedding
day. If she fails, she will be put to death! How many people today
could pass a pre-marital virginity test? OK, the third grade girls
can lower your hands — this is not a survey!”
ACCESSIBLY LIVE
“(A) disturbing look on how the ideals of the religious
and Christianity can go amuck if such notions fall into the wrong
hands. The play isn’t bashing the Bible or Christianity
itself. It is just demonstrating what could happen if elements
of such are translated from one old society to a newer one.
The Perverse Tongue shows that elements may not happen in today’s
society as it’s portrayed on stage, but it could come dangerously
close!”
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