It will be a taste of Heaven and a taste of Hell in Dorsey McPhee's theater of the Gospel stage play "Jesus vs. Satan: A One Man Show". McPhee promises it will not be a visit to Sunday school as he brings to the stage the stories of God, Satan, Jesus, The Battle of the Ages, The Passion, The Resurrection and The Boil Fish Breakfast at Galilee Beach.
In the 11-scene production, the Gospel story will be told in the religious, comedy-drama play that runs just under two hours, during which time McPhee said he wants people to see Jesus both in a different light and as a black man who speaks like them and is a part of the Bahamian culture.
"I will bring the culture out and take people back to Jerusalem and the sense of seeing things unfold," said McPhee, who stars in the production and is the playwright. "What I really hope is that people who would never have ventured into a church come and see the story."
"Jesus vs. Satan: A One Man Show" takes to the stage on Saturday, August 30 at the Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts on Mackey Street.
His one-man play will show the Gospel story through an unbiased eye, allowing for people from all religious denominations to appreciate the show - he believes that being a member of any particular denomination does not get anyone into heaven.
"I want to show the story unbiased so that people who may feel threatened by going into a church can come out and enjoy the story," he said.
McPhee brings at least 30 characters to the stage during the play and tackles the entire Gospel; scenes include Jesus' baptism through his reunion with John the Baptist, McPhee as King Herod and the 'jungaless' he meets who makes him happy by dancing for him. During the scene McPhee plays an Allison Hinds song because, as he said, "I'm sure it wasn't the ballet that caused Herod to want to do it again".
Packaged in with the Biblical stories will be familiar people that Bahamians know, like American recording artist James Brown and noted Bahamian painter and architect Jackson Burnside, who will of course be blowing his conch shell in the play.
He also said that people will be surprised at how Peter denies Jesus three times -- and that it will be done in true Bahamian style.
The play will incorporate cultural aspects like Junkanoo music, which both Satan and Jesus like and use. According to McPhee, you hear Junkanoo going into both Heaven and Hell.
It will also be interspersed with music by William McDowell, Jolta A., Earth, Wind and Fire, Allison Hinds, Reverend James Palacious, Roots, Beatles, James Brown, Edwin Hawkins Singers, Morgan Heritage, Tony Rebel, Mr. Vegas, T. Connection, Marvin Gaye, Luciano, Flo Rida and Marion Williams.
Although religious in nature, McPhee said comedy and drama come together on the stage.
"I want people to come out and have a good time," he said. "I want to give people a taste of Heaven and a taste of Hell so that they can choose which one they're more comfortable with. If you're comfortable with Satan after seeing him in his element that's fine, but I want people to see Jesus as well."
McPhee tells the Gospel story in his one-man show; according to him, Satan is written in a way that allows Satan to be Satan, as such, the production could not be staged in the church.
"To be honest, Satan is a repulsive person, so I had to be repulsive to bring the story over correctly, and that's how I wrote the story," he said.
The play is rated C, which means no one under 18 will be admitted.
While he will have no one to feed off of while on stage, McPhee said he can pull off the one-man production.
"God gave me a gift to be able to act, and that is not an issue for me."
McPhee, 65, a lawyer by profession said he's been consumed with the play for the past three years, the time it took him to write it; he knows all the lines.
A member of the St. Matthew's Players, a drama group, McPhee's introduction to stage plays took place when he was a student at Government High School, as a prop man. During his university years at Florida Atlantic University where he studied economics he was drawn to the drama department and participated in a number of plays.
Upon his return home, he joined St. Matthew's Anglican Church Players. He credits the writing of "Jesus vs. Satan: A One Man Show" to one particular production he was in -- "Night of Sorrow" -- a play about the hours between Jesus' crucifixion and his resurrection, showing Satan's manipulation of the disciples. In that play, McPhee was originally cast as Thomas, but after a fellow actor became ill, McPhee had to play Satan, which led to the nickname sticking.
Really wanting to rid himself of the title, he approached Father James Moultrie, the priest-in-charge of St. Matthew's at the time to play the role of Jesus in church to show people that his acting versatility. After the performance of "Passion", he said, people started telling him they liked how he read Jesus.
One morning three years ago he was channel surfing and came across EWTN Network and a one-man show being aired; he told himself he could do it and started writing his play.
Tickets for the "Jesus vs. Satan: A One Man Show" are $25 and can be purchased at the Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts and St. Matthew's Anglican Church.

THE SCENES
Act 1
Scene 1: The Baptism of Jesus -- "Let it Be", The Beatles
Scene 2: The Temptation of Jesus -- "If Jah is Standing By My Side", Tony Rebel
Scene 3: The Call of the Disciples, Miracles and Demons -- "Give me Strength", Luciano; "I am Blessed", Mr. Vegas
Scene 4: The Beheading of John the Baptist -- "Roll it gal", Alison Hinds; "I Come To the Garden Alone", Reverend James Palacious
Scene 5: Satan all for me baby -- "Funky Good Time", James Brown; "Junkanoo", Roots; "Fire", T-Connection; "It's Me again Jah", Luciano
Scene 6: Jesus foretells his death -- "Got to Get You Into My Life", Earth, Wind and Fire
Scene 7: The Passion -- "The Lord's Prayer", Marvin Gaye; "Your Grace and Mercy", Mississippi Mass Choir; "I Give Myself Away", William McDowell; "Were you There", Marion Williams
Act 2
Scene 8: Satan in his glory -- "I feel good", James Brown; "Junkanoo", Roots
Scene 9: The Resurrection -- The Hallelujah Chorus; "Down by the River", Morgan Heritage; Let Heavenly Music The Cherubim Song; "When the Saints Go Marching In"; "Junkanoo"; "Angus Dei Hallelujah", Jolta A.
Scene 10: The boil fish breakfast Galilee Beach
Scene 11: Encounter with James Brown, Jackson Burnside; Reunion with John the Baptist, Junkanoo
Curtain
"Oh Happy Day", Edwin Hawkins Singers; "Fire", T-Connection and "I Got a Feeling", Flo Rida.

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